Russian ambassador to Australia warned the country not to pull out of the deal to sell nuclear fuel, after Australia said that it was reconsidering the deal in the light of Russia's attack on Georgia.

Ambassador Alexander Blokhin was quoted as saying that there was no connection between the events in the Caucasus region and the uranium deal. He said calling off the deal could harm the economic interest of Australia as well.

Media reports quoted Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith as mulling over revoking a uranium agreement with Russia unless it withdraws all forces from Georgia. The Australian Parliament began a routine examination of the accord that was signed last year. A Labor MP warned that Vladimir Putin could not be trusted with Australian uranium.

Australia's previous conservative government had agreed last year to expand a small-scale 1990 deal, worth around A$1 billion, to sell uranium to Russia under strict controls that it would not be used for purposes of making weapons.

Opponents fear that the uranium could be used in Russian weapons or resold to close Russian allies like Iran and Syria.