Thousands take the streets in Jordan in protest of gas price hikes

Protesters slams government, criticises King Abdullah II Thousands of protesters took the streets of several governorates across Jordan on Tuesday night after the government announced lifting subsidies on fuel and gas. Earlier on Tuesday, the cabinet decided to lift government subsidies on oil derivatives and propane gas, causing a substantial price hike in fuel products.
The decision to "liberalise" fuel prices caused the increase of price of 90-octane gasoline, to go up from JD 0.70 per litre to JD 0.80 per litre, a 15 percent increase.
The increase in prices -supposed to go into effect on Wednesday - raised the prices of diesel and kerosene to JD 0.685, a noticeable 33 percent increase, while the price of propane gas cylinders witnessed the highest price increase, jumping from JD 6.5 to JD 10, almost a 53 percent increase after the government lifted subsidies on cooking gas.
Shortly after the decision was announced, hundreds of protesters blocked the main intersection near the Interior Ministry to protest against the government's decision.
It did not take long for riots to erupt in a number of governorates, where gendarmerie forces had to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Amman, Karak, Dhiban, Aqaba, Irbid, Ajloun, Mafraq, Madaba, Tafileh, Shobak, and Ma'an.
Protests throughout the kingdom Tuesday night witnessed escalating harsh slogans against the government and  King Abdullah II.
Despite Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour's government's attempts to justify the need to lift subsidies, and its plans to compensate low and medium-income family households with annual stipends, citizens and reform movements expressed outrage at the decision.
Ensour said that the decision to lift fuel subsidies "will not affect 70 percent of the Jordanian people", affirming that the cash compensation will be higher than any financial burden on the poor.
In a statement to the state-run Jordan TV, Ensour said the channels to deliver financial support for citizens are easy, affirming that "the money will be provided for beneficiaries within 10 days at most". The direct financial compensation will cover all families whose monthly income is less than JD800.
The government, he added, is taking the suitable decisions that serve the interests of the homeland, reiterating that his government is cutting expenditure.
Security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds shortly after midnight on Tuesday who attempted to protest in front of the house of PM Ensour in Salt, northwest of Amman.
Riots erupted in the city of Salt, northwest of Amman, Tuesday night with protesters firing gunshots at a security building, vandalised the main courtroom, and set government vehicles on fire.
Protesters burnt tires and blocked the main Amman-Salt highway in both directions.
Meanwhile, hundreds of citizens took to the streets and crowded in Wasfi al-Tal roundabout in Irbid governorate chanting slogans against the government and blocked main roads causing a major traffic jam.
In Irbid's northern town of Kura, residents set a gas station ablaze in outrage over the government's decision to lift subsidies, and after residents clashed with the gas station management which refused to sell them fuel derivatives.
Dozens of taxi drivers in Irbid announced a strike starting Tuesday morning.