31.   However, the Vienna-based organization on Wednesday had not yet cut output of crude oil in order to raise prices on the world market.

32.   Late last month, OPEC President Chakib Khelil called on Russia and other non-OPEC producers to cut output with the aim of stabilizing the market.

33.   Kuwait, Iran and the United Arab Emirates announced Monday that they would follow the lead of three major oil producers and cut output to shore up world prices.

34.   Ministers refused to name the other countries that have committed to cut output.

35.   Naimi said the recent deterioration in fundamentals was prompting OPEC to cut output for the third time this year.

36.   Nevertheless, some cement companies have argued that the problem can be easily solved by reducing the number of production shifts, thus directly cutting output.

37.   Oman, a small oil producer, encouraged OPEC to cut output on Tuesday, the official Omani News Agency reported.

38.   OPEC has cut output twice this year in an effort to keep a weakening global economy from dragging down prices.

39.   Other non-OPEC producers, including Russia and Norway, also agreed to cut output.

40.   Rodriguez said OPEC expects news this week on whether such non-OPEC producers as Mexico, Norway, Russia and Oman will cut output.