6 die in Mexico protests over 20% petrol price hike

 At least six people have died and 1,500 have been arrested during days of protests in Mexico against a rise in the price of petrol, the BBC reported.

One of those killed was a serving police officer who had tried to halt robberies at a petrol station.

The government announced last month that it would stop subsidizing petrol and prices would gradually increase through 2017.

An increase of 20% came into force on January 1.

It brought the price of a liter of petrol to 18 pesos ($0.85; £0.70).

President Enrique Pena Nieto has called for calm, saying the price hike is necessary after a rise in global oil prices.

In a televised address to the nation, he said keeping the subsidy would have put the country's whole economy at risk.

He said raising the petrol price was a "difficult and unpopular but necessary decision".

Traffic ground to a halt in Mexico City as transport workers and lorry drivers set up blockades. Protesters called for the president to stand down.

Source: MENA