Indonesian fuel prices up by 87pc

Indonesia has more than doubled the average cost of fuel to try to revive its economy, sparking transport strikes and angry protests from people who have long enjoyed some of the cheapest petrol in the world.

Some burned tyres and effigies of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, while others commandeered diesel trucks and blocked roads. The Government, reacting to soaring global oil prices, announced that the cost of petrol would rise 87 per cent to about 65 cents a litre, the price of diesel fuel would more than double and the cost of kerosene triple.