Mr Ensour, who was serving as interim prime minister before elections in January, ended fuel subsidies late last year.
They asked Gordon Brown, the prime minister, to pay for winter-fuel grants for Northern Ireland's pensioners, and for water services so that they can postpone the introduction of water rates.
But more fuel was added to the fire by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, leader of the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The man in charge of welfare has told him and the prime minister that unless they cut benefits for the elderly like winter fuel payments, free TV licences and bus passes - which the PM refuses to do - that sum will prove politically impossible to find.
And when fuel protesters took on the government - and despite what the prime minister claimed during his press conference - they eventually got concessions from Chancellor Gordon Brown.
The BBC understands discussions are continuing in Whitehall about whether it is possible to limit pensioner benefits - such as the winter fuel allowance, bus pass and free TV licence - without breaking Prime Minister David Cameron's election promise that he would preserve them.
BBC: Welfare spending to be cut by ?4bn, says George Osborne
The prime minister has denied George Osborne "hid" after he revealed a rise in fuel duty was being delayed.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed insurgent attacks on refineries, pipelines, and fuel convoys as the main reason for the current crisis.
The prime minister had been warned there could be a no-confidence vote if he did not lower fuel prices.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has cancelled a regional tour of Yorkshire and is returning to London for emergency meetings on the fuel crisis.
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