|
Petrol was also restricted last year
|
Eritrea has imposed fuel rationing - although
there has been no official announcement of the move which began about two
weeks ago.
Diplomats, who asked not to be
named, say they are being limited in the amount of petrol and diesel they are
allowed each week.
"We are allowed, per week
and per car, 30 litres of petrol and 40 litres of diesel," a western
diplomat told the AFP news agency.
Taxis are reported to have
increased their fares, but there are no queues at petrol stations.
Eritrea is short of foreign exchange
after buying large quantities of modern aircraft to use in the war it fought
with Ethiopia that ended four years ago.
The border between Ethiopia and
Eritrea has been closed ever since, depriving Eritrea of access to its
natural markets.
Fuel rations were imposed for
about a month last year.
A full explanation for last
year's introduction of coupons was not given.
But a government spokesman did
say that there were other more important things to spend hard currency on,
such as bread for poor people.
|
Unlimited, high
