Russia offers help to increase energy supplies

MOSCOW - Japan has asked Russia for more energy supplies as the earthquake-ravaged country is bracing for electricity shortages following the disaster, the Russian government said.

At a special meeting dedicated to the aftermath of Friday's massive 9-magnitude quake in Japan, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Moscow should do everything to help its neighbor which his energy deputy said had requested more gas.

"Our neighbors are faced with huge grief and tragedy," Putin told the meeting on Saturday evening, saying all necessary assistance should be rendered despite "the problems which we have inherited from the past."