Russia is manipulating energy access: US

Russia is manipulating its neighbours' access to energy," US national security advisor Stephen Hadley said in remarks prepared for delivery today.

And he warned that such moves would threaten Moscow's hopes to wield greater influence on the world stage.

"A Russia that continues to threaten its neighbours and manipulate their access to energy will compromise any aspirations for greater global influence," Hadley said, in a transcript of his remarks to be made later today.

The US criticism came as Russia, the world's biggest gas supplier, was locked in a dispute with Ukraine that has halted gas supplies for European customers.

"The next administration will have the challenge of building on our cooperation with Russia while also confronting that nation's aggressiveness and uncertain intentions," Hadley said.

While President George W Bush had forged a partnership with Russia on several issues, the relationship faced limits due to Moscow's failure to uphold human rights, he said.

"Insofar as Russia falls short of respecting the rights and freedoms of its people and its neighbours, the scope of our partnership is necessarily and correspondingly limited," he said.

"President Bush has made clear to Russia's leaders that the 'great powers' of the 21st century cannot pursue the coercive policies of the 19th century."

He said Bush has sought to move beyond Cold War rivalries, cooperating in areas of common interest "while managing our differences in a frank, consistent, and transparent way."