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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>[from news.com.au]</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=3><STRONG>G8 warns on high fuel
prices</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV id=promoTopRight>From: Agence France-Presse </DIV>
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<DIV id=storyAuthorName>From correspondents</DIV><BR>February 13, 2006 </DIV>
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<P class=storyBodyInitial>Group of Eight (G8) finance chiefs have wrapped up
"stormy" talks at a hotel near Red Square in Moscow, warning that wild energy
prices threaten prospects for solid world economic growth in 2006.</P>Oil prices
and energy security dominated Russia's first hosting of G8 policymakers from
Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
<P>"Overall global growth remains solid and this is expected to continue in
2006," the G8 finance ministers said in a final communique released after
heavily guarded, closed-door talks.
<P>"Risks remain, including high and volatile energy prices," the major economic
powers warn.
<P>In a bitterly cold Moscow, the Russian authorities laid on strict security
for the meeting.
<P>Sidewalks around the hotel, overlooked by the towering spires of the Kremlin,
were blocked off to the public and guarded by police with dogs.
<P><NOSCRIPT> </NOSCRIPT><!-- /AdSpace --></P>Army trucks were seen
delivering police reinforcements.
<P>High oil and gas prices have delivered a windfall to Russia, the world's
second biggest oil exporter, giving it greater economic clout than in the past.
<P>However, Russia's G8 partners were deeply concerned when Moscow turned off
natural gas supplies to Ukraine in January to push through sharply higher
prices.
<P>Kiev complained the demand was politically motivated. </P></DIV><A
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