Oil cartel seeks output cutbacks by non-member countries

VIENNA (AP) - OPEC member states are meeting with Russia and other non-OPEC countries in Vienna for talks about a reduction in oil production.

Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo said the discussions began Saturday in a "positive atmosphere" at the headquarters of the oil producers' cartel.

OPEC agreed on Nov. 30 to cut 1.2 million barrels in daily production by its own members in an attempt to raise oil prices.

Now it is hoping for another 600,000 barrels to be cut by countries outside the group.

Barkindo expressed optimism about getting agreement on the 600,000 "or even more maybe."

Much of that is expected to come from major producer Russia, which Barkindo said was co-chairing the meeting.

Crude prices have risen since the OPEC agreement was announced, with U.S. crude up 1.3 percent on Friday at $51.48 a barrel, 6 percent higher than before the OPEC announcement.

That's despite doubts about how much impact any OPEC-led cutback will have due to weak demand from the global economy and a tendency by some members to produce more than agreed.