CLASHES broke out among consumers waiting in long lines as an acute crisis of government subsidised butane cylinders persisted in the Giza small town of Kerdassa on Tuesday, eye witnesses said. Government outlets have run out of the cylinders, which are being sold on the black market for LE30 ($5) a unit, where is its price for customers is LE3.5, the witnesses said. Acute shortages of the cylinders have caused hours-long lines and violence at some sites in poor neighbourhoods of Kerdassa, they added. At least, eight people have been injured in the violence, according to the police. They said that eight men were wounded after a fight broke out in a queue in el- Meittamidia suburb. "A violent argument between two women over their place in line escalated to a brawl, in which eight men were hurt," the police said. One man was hospitalised with a gunshot wound, which he had sustained during a fist fight between customers in Kerdassa, while they were standing in a long cue to buy a butane cylinder earlier in the day, the police added. Kerdassa residents, who have complained that the supply of subsidised butane cylinders has been decreasing during the past week, claimed that the Government-run depots sold some of their butane cylinders on the black market rather than selling them to the people. Meanwhile, Government market inspectors have indicted hundreds of opportunists over black market deals in subsidised butane gas and seized hundreds of cylinders, the police explained. The inspectors also found thousands of violations, from overcharging for butane gas to producing substandard cylinders, they added. In a related development, the Cabinet ministers met yesterday to find ways for ending the acute shortage as soon as possible. Officials vowed to strictly monitor the market and replenish the supply.
