Analysis: Why Syria’s latest fuel price hike is stoking public anger

Protests broke out across parts of Syria on Sunday over a government decision to raise fuel prices, with demonstrators blocking roads and demanding that the increase be scrapped as the cost of living continues to bite. The widespread anger came a day after Mohammed Al-Bashir, Syria’s energy minister, said the country was producing around 102,000 barrels of oil per day, compared with domestic demand of about 325,000 barrels, forcing the government to increase imports to make up for the shortfall