Manama: Hundreds of people marched on Friday afternoon in a rally in Manama to protest against a possible raise in the prices of fuel.
Around 2,000 people, according to the interior ministry, took part in the rally organised by 12 political societies. The figure is well below the 30,000 initially announced by the organizers on the days preceding the public protest.
A report published by a newspaper last month said that the government would hike fuel prices by 20 per cent in 2010.
The report sparked protests in the lower chamber where all parliamentary blocs and independent MPs blasted the government and insisted on explanations from the oil and finance ministers.
However, neither of the ministers confirmed the increase to the lawmakers, prompting them to write a letter to the prime minister requesting a formal and clear answer.
The parliament's efforts were supported by political societies that said that they would organise a rally to exert further pressure on the government to reconsider its decision.
However, on Tuesday, the parliament speaker told the MPs that the government said that the possibility of raising fuel prices was mentioned in a study commissioned by the state and that no decision on the issue had been made.
The government's reply caused some societies to pull out of the rally, but organisers said that they would maintain it and urged people to be part of the march.
