Motorists Queue to Beat 50% Fuel Price Increase

Long queues formed at petrol stations across Indonesia yesterday as motorists scrambled to beat an estimated 50% price rise scheduled to begin at midnight tonight.

Thousands protested against the rise, demanding that the government combats fuel smuggling, which costs the country hundreds of millions of pounds a year. Prices are rising to reduce subsidies on imported fuel, which costs more than twice the annual health budget.

To ease the burden, the 15.5 million poorest households will be given cash in a scheme officials hope to develop into a social security system.