Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi said yesterday he expected Opec to move swiftly over the next few weeks to prop up oil prices with more output curbs, despite signs of economic recession.

Naimi said he believed the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would cut production again before its next meeting in mid-November, possibly by more than 500,000 barrels a day, if crude prices did not stage a recovery before then.

"Yes, I do," Naimi told Reuters in an interview after the group this week decided to leave output unchanged. "We would probably make the decision by telephone."

The oil minister for Opec's biggest and most influential producer, Naimi is taking a tougher line than many others in Opec who have said they can live with lower prices given deteriorating world economic conditions. "Price is paramount," he said. "We want the price at $25 and we're committed to moving it in that direction."

Saudi, a moderate among Opec ranks, finds itself in the unaccustomed position of price hawk in Opec, because it wants to hold the line on $25 while other member nations appear to have given up on Opec's central price target.

Opec has scheduled its next meeting for November 14 after deciding this week to leave oil output unchanged at 23.2 million barrels a day for 10 member countries.

Ministers were still in Vienna yesterday for an industry conference. The Saudi minister said he had no specific timeframe or volume in mind for any new cut. But he added that Opec would not have to stick to the parameters of the group's price band mechanism, either on timing or price.

The device stipulates a reduction of 500,000 barrels a day 10 working days after the Opec basket has stayed under $22. "It could be more," Naimi said of the possible volume.

"Opec cannot afford to react too quickly to events but there are lots of people looking at the numbers and we will make any decision carefully," he added.

Naimi said that Saudi and most others in Opec were not comfortable with only $21-$22 a barrel for the Opec basket, a price level that Saudi's Gulf Opec ally Kuwait has said it can bear for some time.

But he found little in the way of immediate support from fellow Opec members for the idea of a quick new cut. Until this week the group had successfully defended $25 with a series of supply curbs.

But now even Iran, normally one of Opec's most hawkish producers, says it can tolerate lower prices for a time because of world economic circumstances.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh yesterday repeated his assertion that he was content with a $22 Opec basket, about $1.50 higher than current prices.

"As I said, $22 is better than $20. I'm comfortable because it is the floor of our band," Zanganeh told Reuters. "We want to consider our customers and the world economy."

Asked whether he backed Naimi's call he said: "Everything is possible, but I believe we should wait until these market uncertainties disappear."

Kuwait has taken the most dovish stance on prices since the September 11 attacks in the United States. Kuwaiti Oil Minister Adel Al Subaih reiterated again yesterday that his country would be content with $21-$22 during economic uncertainty.

"Different countries can tolerate it for a longer than others," said Al Subaih.

"However, if down the road it continues the same way there will be a consensus for a cut to adjust the price."

Opec's Nigerian representative Rilwanu Lukman said, "We are giving the market time to settle. I see prices moving back into the range and see no need for panic measures on our part."

Opec's reference basket of crudes has fallen from more than $27 since the September 11 attacks in the United States. The slump was sparked by a slowdown in oil demand, particularly for jet fuel.

Naimi said he saw room for improvement on compliance with current cuts which include a million barrel a day reduction that took effect this month.

"Definitely we have made an even firmer commitment to compliance. Compliance will be improved to the highest degree possible - there is a very strong commitment from all the ministers," he said.