CAIRO - Clashes broke out among Egyptians waiting in long lines as an acute crisis of Government subsidised butane cylinders hit the five Governorates of Beni Sueif, Assuit, Sohag, Kafr el-Sheikh, and Fayyoum. Government outlets have run out of the cylinders, which are being sold on the black market for LE12 ($2) a unit, where is its price for customers is LE3.5, residents complain. Acute shortages of the cylinders have caused hours-long lines and violence at some sites in poor neighbourhoods in these five governorates. At least nine people have been injured in Assuit and Kafr el-Sheikh Cities, according to police. The nine persons, including five women, were wounded in fights between customers, and many women fainted of exhaustion or other medical problems aggravated by waiting in the hot weather, the police said. The consumers calimed that they stood for two hours to get a butane cylinder. The supply of subsidised butane cylinders has been decreasing in these five governorates during the past week. Many residents believe that the Government-run depots sell some of their butane cylinders on the black market rather than selling them to the people. In Assuit City, 200 people demonstrated in protest against the crisis. A violent argument between customers over their place in line escalated to a brawl in which four women were hurt, the police said. An average household consumes one butane cylinder a week.
