Difficulties and delays in restoring electricity to hundreds of Russian villages after freezing rain broke power lines has caused a political scandal in Moscow.

Moscow has dashed Iranian hopes that a Russian-built nuclear reactor will be switched on this year, a blow to Tehran amid persistent tension over its nuclear program.

Iraq’s prime minister called on Russian companies to increase investment in Iraq during a visit by the Russian energy minister.

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today forecast the world financial crisis and rising costs would force up the price of natural gas.

Iran’s first nuclear power plant, which is being built by Russia, will not come online before late 2008, Russian news reports said today.