TEHRAN Regarding the energy crisis in the United States and the disputes among the Democrats and the Republicans, the legal consultant of the group of supporters of U.S. general interests, Lexi Shulpz, said in an interview that the main dispute was on the amount of increase in energy production and also the type of energy.

Shulpz, who is also one of the members of the Association Fighting Against Global Warming, said that one group is in favor of increasing domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal, which causes air pollution and environmental damage.

She said that another group believes in policies which would increase energy production without causing excessive air pollution and environmental damage, adding that Bush's new plan emphasizes nuclear energy, but the Democrats are against it.

Shulpz continued, saying that at the present time, the oil, coal, and nuclear industries have strong influence on the U.S. government, but the issue would not end at this point because the oil industry has the strongest influence on the U.S. Congress and is able to change Congressional policies according to their will.

"Some critics, such as the head of the Nuclear Information Center and Natural Resources Services, believe that the Bush government supports the owners of nuclear power plants and is trying to compensate for the failed strategies of the Nixon administration," she added.