Thousands of protesters rallied across Indonesia against government plans to hike the price of fuel, with police in one city firing tear gas to stop hundreds storming the local parliament.
Demonstrations were held in the capital Jakarta and other cities as lawmakers gathered to decide on budget amendments that will pave the way for the government to announce the first price hike since 2008.
Fuel prices have long been a flashpoint issue in Indonesia, with economists arguing that huge government subsidies are damaging Southeast Asia's top economy.
Millions are opposed to lowering the payouts, which keep down the cost of living.
In Jambi, a city on Sumatra island, hundreds of protesters tried to push through the gate in front of the local legislature, provincial police spokesman Almansyah told AFP.
"The situation became somewhat chaotic and the police had to fire tear gas to disperse them," said the spokesman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
Nobody managed to enter and the situation was under control, he added.
A male journalist was hit near the eye by a tear gas shell casing and was receiving hospital treatment, the spokesman said.
In Jakarta, some 3,000 demonstrators gathered outside the national parliament in light rain, setting fire to tyres and waving banners that read "Reject the fuel price rise" and "hang SBY" (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono).
"Get ready to occupy the parliament building if they raise the fuel price," shouted one protester through a loudspeaker.
About 19,000 police and military personnel were deployed across Jakarta, police said.
In the city of Makassar, on Sulawesi island, around 500 university students and teachers protested, burning tyres and yelling "revolution".
While only a small percentage of Indonesians are private car owners, the plan to increase the price of petrol by 44 percent is expected to push up the cost of everyday goods as they will be more expensive to transport.
The state budget amendments will provide financial assistance to poor households, paving the way for Yudhoyono to announce an increase.
Such sessions in parliament's lower house can drag on for hours but if the measures are approved as expected, Yudhoyono could announce an increase as early as Monday evening.
Thousands rally in Indonesia over fuel price hike
Thousands of protesters rallied across Indonesia against government plans to hike the price of fuel, with police in one city firing tear gas to stop hundreds storming the local parliament.
Demonstrations were held in the capital Jakarta and other cities as lawmakers gathered to decide on budget amendments that will pave the way for the government to announce the first price hike since 2008.
Fuel prices have long been a flashpoint issue in Indonesia, with economists arguing that huge government subsidies are damaging Southeast Asia's top economy.
Millions are opposed to lowering the payouts, which keep down the cost of living.
In Jambi, a city on Sumatra island, hundreds of protesters tried to push through the gate in front of the local legislature, provincial police spokesman Almansyah told AFP.
"The situation became somewhat chaotic and the police had to fire tear gas to disperse them," said the spokesman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
Nobody managed to enter and the situation was under control, he added.
A male journalist was hit near the eye by a tear gas shell casing and was receiving hospital treatment, the spokesman said.
In Jakarta, some 3,000 demonstrators gathered outside the national parliament in light rain, setting fire to tyres and waving banners that read "Reject the fuel price rise" and "hang SBY" (President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono).
"Get ready to occupy the parliament building if they raise the fuel price," shouted one protester through a loudspeaker.
About 19,000 police and military personnel were deployed across Jakarta, police said.
In the city of Makassar, on Sulawesi island, around 500 university students and teachers protested, burning tyres and yelling "revolution".
While only a small percentage of Indonesians are private car owners, the plan to increase the price of petrol by 44 percent is expected to push up the cost of everyday goods as they will be more expensive to transport.
The state budget amendments will provide financial assistance to poor households, paving the way for Yudhoyono to announce an increase.
Such sessions in parliament's lower house can drag on for hours but if the measures are approved as expected, Yudhoyono could announce an increase as early as Monday evening.
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