Tegucigalpa, July 21 (RHC)-- Hondurans have clashed with police in the capital Tegucigalpa during a protest against rising fuel prices.  Public transport workers, taxi drivers and university students took part in the protest, which turned violent when police fired tear gas and water cannons at the demonstrators.
 
All units of public transportation -- buses, taxis and mototaxis -- went on strike after transport managers and representatives of the Honduras Institute of Land Transport (Instituto Hondureno del Transporte Terrestre/IHTT) failed to come to an agreement over rising fuel prices.
 
Fuel now costs about $3.74 a gallon in Honduras.  "The increase in both fuel and [vehicle] circulation taxes.  We cannot cope with all of this.  It's a severe blow to our pockets," a taxi driver said.  Another taxi driver said: "They should support us because this is of interest not only to us, taxi drivers and bus drivers... but of interest to everyone.  And another protester, a retired worker, told reporters: "Fuel consumption is connected to the cost of food, the cost of living, and that is a necessity."