Demonstrators blocked oil tanker routes and roads in six provinces on the second consecutive day of unrest over a 25-40% fuel price rise, as more than 50 MPs signed a demand to question the energy minister.
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MPs → block → minister
Protests against fuel price increases spread across Syria for a second consecutive day on Monday, with demonstrators blocking roads and oil tanker routes in several provinces and calling for the dismissal of Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir, as parliament summoned him to appear before a hearing on Thursday.
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parliament → spread → Thursday
More than 50 members of Syria's People's Assembly signed a request on Sunday demanding the energy committee question al-Bashir over the price hikes and their impact on living conditions.
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committee → sign → conditions
The assembly confirmed on Monday that the hearing had been set for Thursday at noon local time (11 am CEST).
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hearing → confirm → noon
Fuel prices rose by 25% to 40% after Syria's standing committee for the pricing of petroleum products issued a new temporary price list that took effect at midnight on Sunday.
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that → rise → Sunday
The price of a litre of 95-octane petrol rose from 152 to 195 new Syrian pounds, 90-octane from 147 to 185 pounds, and diesel from 125 to 175 pounds — an increase of 40%.
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price → rise → %
A household gas cylinder rose from 1,470 to 1,600 pounds.
100 Syrian pounds is about 1 eurocent, but the average net monthly salary in Syria varies widely by sector and can amount to just €50 to €60, according to publicly available figures.
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salary → rise → figures
The government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has increased the minimum wage by 550% in March, as part of a broader recovery plan for the Middle Eastern country whose years-long civil war devastated most of its economy and resulted in the deaths of more than 580,000 people, with another 13.5 million displaced.
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million → increase → people
Protests were reported in Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Aleppo, Idlib and Daraa.
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Protests → report → Hasakah
In Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor, demonstrators blocked roads used by crude oil tankers and cut the al-Suway'iya bridge crossing between Syria and Iraq near al-Bukamal.
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demonstrators → block → Bukamal
In the city of al-Shahil, residents blocked the road leading to the al-Omar oilfield, preventing tankers from passing.
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residents → block → tankers
In Raqqa, truck and haulage drivers staged a sit-in outside a grain storage centre, with the road to the silos remaining blocked on Monday.
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road → stag → Monday
In Idlib province, protesters blocked the M5 motorway near Maaret al-Numan, while video circulating online showed a night-time demonstration in the city of Idlib with crowds demanding al-Bashir's removal.
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video → block → removal
Local sources reported that a young man in Hasakah province attempted to set himself on fire in protest at the price increases and worsening living conditions before bystanders intervened.
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bystanders → report → increases
Video of a separate incident showed another man threatening to burn his car.
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man → show → car
Euronews could not independently confirm these reports.
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Euronews → confirm → reports
Al-Bashir said on Saturday the price rise was needed to bridge a gap between the cost of importing petroleum products and their domestic selling prices.
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rise → say → products
Syria produces approximately 102,000 barrels of oil per day against domestic demand of around 325,000 barrels, leaving it heavily dependent on imports, he said.
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he → produce → imports
Major maintenance work at the Baniyas refinery in the southern Tartus governorate has further reduced domestic refining capacity, requiring additional imports of finished petroleum products.
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work → reduce → products
The ministry said it would review prices as global market conditions change and the refinery returns to full capacity.
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refinery → say → capacity
Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel in recent days amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz linked to the Iran war and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
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prices → rise → Arabia
The Aporia
