TIMESONLINE: Gangs of youths torched petrol stations and long queues developed at pumps in Tehran after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the start of fuel rationing, causing the kind of violent protests rarely seen in Iran.
Despite the Islamic Republic being Opec's No 2 oil producer, Mr Ahmadinejad announced yesterday evening that he was enforcing the rations from midnight last night.
Reading out an Oil Ministry statement, Iranian state television said that private cars would be rationed to 100 litres per month, while those using petrol and compressed natural gas would only be allowed 30 litres.
It added that the rationing would continue for four months and might be extended to six months. Separate quotas have also been introduced for municipal yellow taxis and privately-run taxi firms. Petrol stations torched in Iran after Ahmadinejad rations fuel (More) By David Byers and agencies
Mark Alexander
