GENEVA, Monday - Representatives from more than thirty nations arrived here yesterday for an emergency conference aimed at finding ways to deal with the growing international energy crisis.

The meeting, called after several months of uncertainty over oil supplies, opened with a brief address from the conference chairman, who urged the participating countries to avoid "panic and unnecessary competition."

Queues at petrol stations have become an increasingly common sight in parts of Europe and North America. Several governments have introduced restrictions on fuel consumption, while motorists in some cities have been asked to leave their cars at home on designated days.

The effects have also been felt far beyond the roads. Rising fuel costs have pushed up the price of transportation, heating and several everyday goods.

Western officials have called for greater cooperation between oil-producing and oil-consuming nations. Representatives from producing countries, meanwhile, have stressed that their natural resources must be treated as a matter of national interest.

The talks are expected to continue throughout the week.

Outside the conference hall, there was little indication that an immediate agreement was near. Delegates arriving Monday morning offered few comments to reporters, with one European representative simply remarking, "There is much to discuss."

Markets around the world are watching the negotiations closely.

For ordinary families, however, the question is considerably simpler: how much longer will the petrol last?

- International Desk