Armed men blocked on Thursday a main road linking between the capital Sana'a and the neighboring governorate of Amran in protest at the new increase of diesel prices.

Eyewitnesses affirmed that the armed men blocked the road at Al-Hawir area following the announcement about a new quotation of oil derivatives on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, local sources of Marib governorate said that farmers of the governorate surrounded on Thursday the building of the Yemeni Petroleum Company in the city of Marib, held some employees and cut power, water and phone services about the building in protest at the new quotation of diesel.

The sources affirmed the protesters installed tents before the company, refusing the new increase, pointing out that the protests were met with support of agriculture and transportation associations.

Yemen Petroleum Company approved on Wednesday an increase of diesel and kerosene prices and a decline of gasoline. The liter of gasoline was cut from YR 175 to YR125 while the price of diesel and kerosene increased from YR50 per liter to YR 100 per liter.

The company said that the new prices is in force from Wednesday 3 pm, pointing out that the prices will be united for all local sectors except the foreign companies.

Argument heated inside Parliament on Wednesday between lawmakers of the Joint Meeting Parties that presides the government and others of the General People Congress headed by the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The GPC representatives who are royal to Saleh strongly objected the increase of the diesel price, accusing the Islah Party of standing behind the decision of the increase of oil derivatives prices.