WASHINGTON. Sept 8: US oil producers yesterday accused Energy Secretary Bill Richardson of influencing the Commerce Department's rejection of a landmark dumping petition against Saudi Arabia. Mexico. Venezuela and Iraq, reports Reuters.

As part of an appeal filed Tuesday with the federal Court of International Trade in New York, the independent producers said they want to find out what role Richardson played in getting their case dismissed last month.

The group of small oil firms contends the national oil companies of the four targeted countries sold crude oil in the United States below actual costs df production.

Some trade lawyers doubt the producers' appeal will be successful because the Commerce Department is considered the expert agency on US trade issues, making it likely the court will accept the department's decision.

Save Domestic Oil. the group of independent oil producers that brought the precedent-setting dumping case, said in court papers that Richardson made

"numerous statements" opposing the petition and took an "informal role" in adjudicating the case that was the Commerce Department's responsibility.

The group is seeking internal documents about Richardson's conversations with a Saudi official about the case.

Richardson previously said he telephoned Saudi Arabia's oil minister to assure him that the Clinton Administration was not behind the dumping case.

Richardson also met privately with the oil producers to try to convince them to drop their controversial petition.

"If the facts obtained through discovery reveal that Secretary Richardson interfered in the Commerce Department's proceeding in any way. Commerce's determination not to initiate (an investigation) would be arbitrary, capricious and unlawful." the group said.

Richardson, a former New Mexico congressman, served as US ambassador to the United Nations and played a key role in freeing hostages and prisoners in Iraq. Cuba and North Korea.