Japan Requests Saudi Action

Japan's trade and industry minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, has called on Saudi Arabia to take the lead in stabilising oil prices. Nakagawa made the request ahead of his meeting with Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi scheduled for Wednesday in Tokyo.

"For the sake of the friendship between Japan and Saudi Arabia, I would like to ask him to stabilise oil supply in terms of both price and volume," Nakagawa told a news conference.

The Japanese minister said he hoped Saudi Arabia, which has influence on the OPEC countires, will call on other members to stabilise oil supplies.