MOSCOW, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - British-Russian venture TNK-BP is seeking the Russian state's help to break into the Venezuelan market in what may prove a new trend, the Russian broadsheet Kommersant reported Wednesday.

Kommersant said TNK-BP chief executive German Khan had written to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on August 30 asking for help in Venezuela.

TNK-BP could 'contribute to developing and reinforcing economic cooperation' between Russia and Venezuela by participating in fossil fuel projects in the South American country, Kommersant quoted the letter as saying.