The president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, has been reported as saying a decision on the route for a pipeline carrying oil from the Caspian Sea to the west has been postponed.

According to the Russian Interfax newsagency, Mr Aliyev said the international consortium developing the oil fields would present its recommendation on November the twelfth.

He was speaking before leaving for Ankara to attend Turkey's anniversary celebrations.

Mr Aliyev said Central Asian leaders would use the occasion to express their support for a link from Baku to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.