Turkmenistan says no to Russian gas deal

Russia and Turkmenistan have failed to reach agreement over gas exports, after a day of talks in Ashkhabad between President Niyazov and the Russian Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin.

The Turkmen side said the price offered by the Russians for Turkmen gas was too low.

Mr Niyazov told journalists that Turkmenistan was an independent country, and the BBC Central Asia correspondent says this firm stand is a clear indication of its new found confidence.

She says this latest snub to Moscow may further weaken Russia's position in the Caspian, home to the earth's biggest new energy reserves.

Before returning home, Mr Chernomyrdin paid a brief visit to Tajikistan, where he signed a number of economic agreements.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service