Iran Erupts Over Gas Rationing

Leaders fear West will cut fuel imports
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 27, 2007 4:49 AM CDT
Iran Erupts Over Gas Rationing
Iranians burn a gas station during a protest against gas-rationing in Tehran, Iran on early Wednesday June, 27, 2007. Angry Iranians attacked several gas stations in protest after the government suddenly began long-threatened fuel rationing, while many others rushed to fill their tanks. The Oil Ministry...   (Associated Press)

Angry Iranians torched Tehran gas stations yesterday and smashed windows as protests against gas rationing turned violent, the BBC reports. Motorists formed huge lines to fill  tanks before new laws took effect limiting Iranians to 26 gallons of gas a month. Despite its oil reserves, Iran is short of refining capacity and must import 40% of its fuel.

"Guns, fireworks, tanks, Ahmadinejad should be killed," chanted youths hurling rocks at police shortly after the new limits were announced. Iranians were given only two hours notice before the rationing went into effect. Iran fears an embargo by the West over its nuclear program could cripple its fragile economy. (More Iran stories.)

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