1.   Qatar has led the way among the Gulf countries in signing production-sharing with Western oil companies to boost its crude output.

2.   This would have been the case if crude output were on the decline.

3.   OPEC officials broke off informal talks earlier in the day without agreeing on whether to adjust crude output.

4.   OPEC Secretary-general Ali Rodriguez echoed that view, saying the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has no plans for now to increase crude output.

5.   At a press conference, Tellez said, however, that Mexico has no plans to revise its agreed crude output cuts despite higher oil prices in recent weeks.

6.   But he said that crude output was not being affected by the level of advancement at Cantarell.

7.   Oil ministers agree not to alter crude output for the next three months ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS.

8.   Oil futures were modestly higher in London even though OPEC gave out no immediate confirmation of how sharply it plans to slash crude output.

9.   The bulk of crude output comes from Abu Dhabi and rest from Dubai.

10.   The OPEC official in Vienna warned that prices could plunge if the two sides fail to reach an understanding about crude output.