Moscow, Sep. 2 Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday said that the government tried to pacify the fighting Ambani brothers several times, but failed to bring about a reconciliation.

"We tried to bring a reconciliation, but we failed. The government had advised several times that they (Mukesh and Anil Ambani) should stop fighting," Deora told reporters in Moscow, where he is accompanying President Pratibha Patil.

Last month, the Prime Minister's Office had issued a similar statement.

"The Prime Minister's general approach has been that instead of fighting, they (Ambanis) should patch up as both their groups contribute sizeably to India's economic growth," PMO has stated.

The two Ambani groups command about 10 per cent of collective market capitalisation of the total over 4,000 companies in the country.

"We wanted to put an end to it (gas dispute) so that the work can go on," Deora replied after being asked about reasons for the government yesterday amend its petition in Supreme Court on the dispute between RIL and RNRL - the two firms promoted by Mukesh and Anil, respectively.

The government petition said: "It is in no way concerned with the private dispute between RIL and RNRL or between the Ambani brothers, but is only concerned with its rights as owner and regulator of natural gas."

The original petition had sought "(the MoU) should be declared null and void."

On the issue of gas allocation, Deora said:"We want a committee rather than the ministry to go into the issue." (ANI)