Kuala Lampur, April 7 --  

BANGKOK, April 7 - Thailand is considering enforcing overnight closures of petrol stations beginning later this month, the prime minister said today, an effort to preserve fuel as the Middle East war has driven fears of shortages.

Anutin Charnvirakul, whose new cabinet was sworn in late Monday, told reporters in Bangkok that his government was weighing shutting down sales at petrol pumps from 10 pm to 5 am, as early as April 20.

The prime minister assured Thais they would still be able to travel to their hometowns during the Songkran holiday period, officially observed from Monday to Wednesday next week.

"Petrol station closing hours may start after people return from their Songkran trips and ...