Katrina brings sky-high fuel prices, shortages to US

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US petrol stations saw panic buying and lengthening queues as a summer of pain for drivers battling sky-high oil prices intensified in the deadly wake of Hurricane Katrina.

US President George W. Bush, after ordering the release of emergency government supplies of crude to hard-pressed refineries, vowed a clampdown on looters and others profiteering from Katrina's impact.

"I think there ought to be zero tolerance of people breaking law during an emergency such as this, whether it be looting, price gouging at the gasoline pump or taking advantage of charitable giving, insurance fraud," Bush said.

Rising gasoline (petrol) prices are one reason cited by pollsters for Bush's popularity ratings sinking to around 45 percent, the lowest level of...