OPEC urges US, others to do more to help economy

[March 16, 2009]  VIENNA (AP) -- A senior OPEC official has challenged the U.S. and other industrialized countries to clean up the global economic mess that he says they have caused.

OPEC Secretary General Abdullah el Badri says his organization has done its part by deciding Sunday not to cut output levels. But he says OPEC has not seen any positive results from the world's leading industrialized countries he says have created the problem.

El Badri spoke Monday, a day after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to maintain current production levels unchanged. On Sunday, OPEC also said it would concentrate on eliminating overproduction by some members.

OPEC estimates that the world's supply of oil would be reduced by about 800,000 barrels a day, if all such overproduction was eliminated.

[Associated Press]

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