The embattled Russian oil company Yukos has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States to prevent the auction of its main asset Yuganskeneftegaz, the Interfax reported on Wednesday.

A statement posted in the company's web site said Yukos filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in Houston on Tuesday.

It said that the impending auction of its main production subsidiary on Sunday "will cause the company to suffer immediate and irreparable harm."

"Yukos is asking the court for a temporary restraining order halting the planned Sunday auction of its Yuganskneftegaz subsidiary by Russian authorities," the statement added.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)