MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - A senior Russian industry expert denied media reports on Monday and Tuesday that a supposed Kremlin consultative body has been commissioned to draft an economic development strategy for Russia as an alternative to guidelines that have been approved by the government.

"Information of this kind may be in the interests of forces that seek a conflict between executive branches of the government," Igor Yurgens, chief executive of the Institute of Contemporary Development (INSOR), a Moscow-based think tank, told Interfax.

The reports cited anonymous sources as saying a "Council for the Development of an Information Society" had been set up at the Kremlin and that its main task was to draw up a "Strategy 2030," a form of alternative to the government-approved Concept 2020.

The reports said INSOR would be involved in drafting the alleged strategy.

They also said the alleged council was headed by Leonid Reiman, who is a presidential adviser and a former information technology and communications minister.

"We are amazed by the fact that influential publications have carried unverified and untrue information on the work of the Institute of Contemporary Development on 'Project 2030,' and on the setting up of a presidential council for the development of information society and staff appointments in it. Everyone knows that 'Project 2020' has been drawn up by the Ministry for Economic Development, and INSOR took part in this work at the request of the ministry with a great deal of interest. However, today 'Project 2020' has been approved by the ministry and discussions on it are over," Yurgens said.