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(Reuters) – Haitian leaders on Saturday pleaded for calm as fierce protests over rising fuel prices entered a second day and airlines canceled flights to the Caribbean nation.
Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant announced the temporary suspension of double-digit government gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices Saturday afternoon – just one day after the announcement of rising fuel prices.
But as the local television footage showed, the government's decision not to prevent angry residents from going down the streets with inflamed roadblocks and attacking hotels and businesses .
"The government strongly condemns the acts of violence and vandalism perpetrated following the announcement of the price adjustment of petroleum products," Lafontant said in a statement.
U.S. Airlines American Airlines and JetBlue announced Saturday the cancellation of their flight to the capital Port-au-Prince, citing civil unrest.
The United States Embassy in Haiti advised staff and Americans in the country to be on the spot.
The US State Department stated separately that it was aware of vandalism in a Best Western hotel, where the media reported that Americans were staying, and in an American Airlines office at downtown Port-au-Prince.
"To date, we have not received any reports of injured US citizens in the incidents," said the state department in a statement.
Friday, the Ministries of Trade and the Economy of Haiti announced that fuel price increases, of which a leap of 38% for gasoline and 47% for diesel , would enter into force at midnight.
The decision now suspended by the government of President Jovenel Moses to raise prices was part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which requires the country to adopt a series of austerity measures .
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