Brussels/Moscow  - The row over Russia's cut-off of gas supplies to the European Union via Ukraine hit a new chill Thursday after all-day talks in Brussels ended in mutual recriminations.

The failure by EU, Russian and Ukrainian officials to seal a deal leaves many European countries facing the prospect of gas shortages at the height of winter.

Discussions in Brussels focused on convincing Russia to renew its gas deliveries through its neighbour to Europe in return for an EU mission aimed at making sure the gas is not stolen en route, as claimed by Moscow.

Oslo  - Norwegian police used teargas Thursday to disperse counter-protesters in connection with a public rally in support of Israel in downtown Oslo.

Siv Jensen, leader of the opposition, populist Progressive Party, was a keynote speaker, saying that "war is the worst thing there is," but insisting Israel was "exercising the right to defend itself."

Several hundred people including several parliamentarians attended the rally that was organized by pro-Israel groups including With Israel for Peace.

Gaza  - A driver and another worker bringing humanitarian supplies from the northern crossing point of the Gaza Strip into the territory was killed when the aid convoy came under Israeli fire, a spokesman for the United Nations said.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said it was subsequently suspending all its activity in the enclave.

In a second incident later in the day another UN convoy with international staff, heading from Gaza City to the southern town of Rafah, also came under fire, and one more person was injured.

Mexico City  - Mexico's inflation rate was 6.53 per cent in 2008, its highest in eight seven years, the Mexican Central Bank said Thursday.

In 2000, Mexico recorded an annual inflation rate of 8.96 per cent. In 2007, it was 3.76 per cent, closer to the country's long- term goal of 3 per cent per year.

The forecast for the new year remained grim as the country's economy would not grow in 2009, the Finance Ministry warned. With its close economic ties to the United States, the Mexican economy is also suffering the impact of the global financial crisis.

Moscow  - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday Russia would reopen gas flow to Europe only after European monitors are in place in Ukraine to monitor its safe flow.

"What must happen today is that controlling mechanisms are put in place and monitors are sent to the border where our gas enters Ukrainian territory," Putin told journalist in televised comments Thursday.

Putin said the government in Kiev had "collapsed" and showed proof of a "high-level criminal structure."

Buenos Aires  - Qatari Nasser al-Attiyah won the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally on Thursday to increase his overall lead.

However the BMW X3 driver could face a time penalty after a review of whether he went through all the control points on a shortened 178-kilometre stage between San Rafael and Mendoza in Argentina.

Al-Attiyah of the X-Raid team posted 2 hours 7 minutes 26 seconds to finish ahead 5:07 ahead of Giniel de Villiers of South Africa in a Volkswagen Touareg.