We recall that the managing director of the Kyrgyzgaz [Kyrgyz gas] open joint-stock company, Salamat Aytikeyev, left for Tashkent yesterday to continue talks on gas supplies, Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website reported.

Chudinov said that the talks had not been completed because no compromise reached on the price. "They are now talking about paying around 140 dollars for 1,000 cu.m. Earlier the Uzbek side asked twice as much," he said.

"The price of gas has risen by 40% in Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan has reacted to this rise," the prime minister said, explaining the reason why the talks had been difficult and protracted.