Ukrainian competition panel approves new consumer gas venture

A government competition panel on Tuesday approved the creation of new joint venture to supply Russian and Central Asian &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/92/370/16695_Ukraine.html' target=_blank>natural gas to Ukrainian consumers, backing a key component in a deal aimed at ending a price dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

The deal is part of a complicated, face-saving agreement worked out earlier this month following a Russian cutoff of gas supplies to Ukraine, and the interruption of gas supplies to some European countries.