LONDON — Protests over soaring fuel prices erupted in Asia on Tuesday as truckers in Hong Kong and tire-burning demonstrators in India and Nepal added their angry voices to protests that began last month in Europe.
As oil hit a record $139 a barrel, large and small businesses that depend on gasoline and diesel for their livelihoods said they can no longer cope with pump prices that have doubled or tripled.
Two protesters were killed Tuesday, one in Spain and one in Portugal, as they attempted to block traffic, according to news reports.
Truckers in South Korea voted to strike, while drivers in Hong Kong were demanding reductions in fuel taxes. Fuel taxes are also the central issue for truckers in Europe, because they account for a large portion of the retail price of fuel.
