Long queues of cars have lately been seen at the filling stations in most of Yemen's cities due to an acute petrol shortage which adds to the many problems and shortages caused by the months-long unrest.

Many filling stations were closed down in the capital Sana'a and the business capital Aden, and there were reports that the Yemen Petroleum Company circulated that the filling stations, still open, should fill in only 30 liters of petrol per car.

The circulation aimed to ration oil and diesel quantities to enable the bakers, electrical and water corporations to have suitable quantities amid expectations the situation will further deteriorate as the unrest continues.

Here in Sana'a, it is taking several hours a day for a driver to get a station to fill in a car, and many people sometimes go back empty-handed.

" I get up very early and go quickly to search for a filling station that continues to supply fuel and sometimes I stand in a long queue waiting for my turn," said Esam Al-Shilh, a taxi driver.

The petrol shortage coincided with an acute weeks-long gas shortage blamed on saboteurs, who the government said had closed the main gas transportation road in Marib as well as persistent blackouts also blamed on sabotage attacks against the power station in the notorious province.

In Sana'a and some cities, the people have taken to the streets with empty gas cylinders to close the streets in protest at the gas shortage and sometimes the police clash with them while reopening the roads.

The shortages will send lead the prices of travel tickets and these materials higher, observers said.

An official at the company said that the fuel rationing circulation was issued amid fears the strategic reserve storage will sharply decline as the antigovernment protests calling for an immediate ouster of President Saleh are continuing in most of the cities.

The attacks on the Marib power station also aggravated the crisis and now Aden must supply all provinces with oil derivatives, the official said, adding:" in the meantime the Aden Refinery could be halted for maintenance.