ROME, Jan. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Gas supplies to Italy are "under control" despite the Russian cut-off of deliveries to Ukraine which has caused knock-on effects across eastern and central Europe, an Italian minister said here on Monday.

    Italian Industry Minister Claudio Scajola said there were no looming shortfalls after talking to the heads of petrochemicals group Eni and energy group Enel.

    But Scajola called a meeting of the government's emergency committee on the country's natural gas system.

    Italy, with some deposits of its own, is not as reliant on foreign gas as some other European countries.

    Also, unlike many other European countries, a major chunk of its supplies comes across the Mediterranean from Libya.

    Austria, Slovakia, Moldova and Hungary were among the countries to report sharp drops in gas supplies on Monday morning, with Hungary by around 40 percent.

    Russia cut off gas supplies to its neighbor Ukraine on Sunday after Kiev rejected Moscow's demand for a fourfold price rise.

    Russia accused Kiev of siphoning off gas destined for Europe. But Kiev has denied the allegations. Enditem