NCRI - Fuel shortages in sub-zero temperature in northern province of Mazandaran sparkes angry riots.

Residents of Qaemshahr gathered outside the governorates office building yesterday to protest against the government's inaction to resolve fuel shortages after a gas supply cut off over the past two weeks. Lack of any move by the authorities to deal with the crisis while the country is going through one of its coldest winters angered protesters. They attacked the building and set fire to the offices.

The protest which started at around 14:00 local time yesterday went on till early hours of evening as the crowd grew in size spreading to other parts of the town. 

Similar protests were reported in other towns and cities in the province including Sari and Babol. In these protests the crowds were shouting anti-government slogans damning the regime for its incompetence with record oil revenue. They were calling the leaders of the regime "a bunch of thieves and murderers" and ridiculing Ahmadinejad by saying, "instead of fighting the whole world you should resolve our basic requirements."

As a result of severe fuel shortage bakeries cannot meet the demand and there are long queues for bread where people have to wait till late hours in the evening in the freezing cold weather.

Iran has one of the highest oil and gas reserves in the world and yet relies largely on refined petroleum imports.