Thousands march against fuel hike

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Thousands of students, truck drivers and laborers rallied across Indonesia on Thursday to protest impending fuel price hikes, some blocking roads with burning tires and throwing stones outside a house belonging to the vice president.

In one incident, police fired warning shots and beat protesters with batons after a rowdy crowd tried to storm a gas station, witnesses said.
The government's decision to cut fuel subsidies that have helped protect Indonesia's poorest from spiraling global prices could result in a 60 percent rise in the price of gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene when it takes effect Saturday, ministers say.

Fuel Panic Buying

Hundreds of motorists queue for fuel at a gas station in Semarang, Central Java. People around the city on Monday went on a panic buying spree for gasoline, following the government's announcement that it will raise fuel prices, possibly by at least 50 percent, from Oct.1. (The Jakarta Post)

Airliner Crashes Into City Kills at Least 147

The jet plunges after takeoff at Medan on Sumatra, apparently killing all 117 aboard.By Richard C. Paddock and Dinda Jouhana, Special to The Times

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A commercial airliner carrying 117 people crashed in a residential neighborhood in the Indonesian city of Medan moments after takeoff today and burst into flames, authorities said.A government spokesman said everyone aboard was killed in the crash of the Boeing 737, which was operated by Mandala Airlines, a low-budget Indonesian carrier partly owned by the military. More