36 Die in Riots After Yemen Fuel Price Hikes

Looting broke out in the Yemeni city of Aden last night after two days of rioting over fuel price rises that left 36 people dead.

France advised its nationals not to travel to the country in view of the violence, which grew out of a rare display of public anger against the country's leaders on Wednesday and escalated into a rampage of burning and looting.

In Aden witnesses said looters descended on the main commercial district despite a heavy army presence.

Earlier, in the capital, Sana'a, several buildings were damaged and vehicles and tyres set alight. Several police officers were reportedly among the dead.

Locals are angry at a decision to remove subsidies on fuel, a move that has roughly doubled the price of diesel, petrol and kerosene and caused knock-on rises in fares for public transport. The move is in line with an economic package agreed with the International Monetary Fund.