The nation's chief epidemiologist and State Duma deputies pledged support Thursday for the war on AIDS but avoided discussing hard-hit groups such as prostitutes, drug users and homosexuals, in contrast with officials from other countries, including China and India.

Their comments came at a conference featuring lawmakers from Germany, Britain, China, India and Brazil in advance of the G8 summit, where AIDS is expected to be prominently discussed.

Chief epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko and Tatyana Yakovleva, head of the Duma's Public Health Committee, warned the disease was spreading into the general public and stressed the need for vaccines and free treatment for those who were infected. Onishchenko added that HIV would be extensively discussed at the Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg in July.

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