The Belarusian customs chief threatened...

Alexander Shpilevsky, the head of the Belarusian customs committee, said Russia had backtracked on January 1 on a bilateral agreement of three years ago to gradually reduce oil export duty and described Russia"s actions as illegal.

"The customs committee is an instrument of the president and the government, and if a decision on retaliation is made, we will be ready to carry it out in full," Shpilevsky told a news conference.

The Belarusian official also complained that Russia was increasing the number of its customs officials on the border, but said Minsk would not take any response measures.

Moscow and Minsk have failed to agree oil supplies and transit for 2010. Belarus benefited from major discounts on Russian oil imports in 2009, and is seeking preferential treatment this year.

Russia warned earlier that Belarus would have to pay 100% oil export duty in 2010 if no oil deal was available.

Despite the dispute, Russian oil supplies via the ex-Soviet

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