Yemen reduces fuel prices

Yemen's cabinet decided yesterday to cut fuel prices less than a week after 22 Yemenis were killed in riots sparked by price rises for petrol, diesel and kerosene.

A Yemeni official said the new, lower prices would come into effect today. Analysts had expected the government to revise its decision to appease public anger.

More than 300 people, including some 250 security forces and police, were injured in last week's nationwide protests against a cut in subsidies which almost doubled the price of petrol.

The riots were the worst since protests in 1998 which were set off by a government decision to reduce subsidies on food and fuel.