Brussels  - European Union experts gathered in Brussels on Friday to review what measures are needed to deal with what they have described as an "unprecedented" gas crisis sparked by a Russian- Ukranian row.

The bloc's gas coordination group confirmed that the EU country most affected by the cut-off of Russian gas arriving via Ukraine is Bulgaria, which now has gas reserves sufficient for only two to three days.

Brussels  - The European Union on Friday urged Russia immediately to restore gas supplies to Europe after satisfying one of Moscow's key demands by sending a team of observers to Ukraine.

But the taps remained shut by late afternoon, as skirmishes erupted between representatives of the two countries' state-owned monopolies, Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukraine.

"The team (of observers) has begun its work," the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, said in a statement.

Brussels  - The European Union on Friday hailed the formation of a new government in Bangladesh as a potential milestone in the country's development.

The EU "congratulates Sheikh Hasina on her electoral victory and appointment as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and pays tribute to the people of Bangladesh for their commitment to the holding of democratic, multi-party elections," a statement on behalf of the 27-member bloc released in Brussels said.

Brussels/Prague - Ukraine and Russia remained at loggerheads Thursday over the deployment of international experts to monitor gas flows through Ukraine, European Union officials said.

While both sides have agreed that international monitors could play a role in solving the standoff which has crippled gas supplies to Europe, officials said that no final agreement on a mission had been reached during talks in Brussels.

Brussels - Four more European Union countries Thursday opened up their labour markets to workers from Bulgaria and Romania, but rich nations such as Britain, France, Germany and Italy continue to maintain restrictions.

Greece, Spain, Hungary and Portugal all agreed to welcome Bulgarian and Romanian workers, European Commission officials said, while Denmark said it planned to lift restrictions on all EU workers as of May 1.

But workers from Bulgaria and Romania are still expected to face obstacles in 10 other EU countries for some time to come.

Brussels  - Russia was wrong to cut off all gas supplies to and through Ukraine regardless of who was in the right over the two countries' gas dispute, a top United States official said Wednesday.

"We want to have good relations with Russia, but they should be based on 21st-century principles, not principles of spheres of influence ... Is there no better way to handle a commercial dispute than cutting off gas and affecting third parties?" US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Daniel Fried said in Brussels.