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NEW DELHI, July 22 (AFP) - US telecoms giant WorldCom has paid 62.5 million dollars in dues to India's dominant telco Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL), officials from the state-run firm announced here on Monday.

WorldCom, which filed for bankruptcy protection following last month's accounting scandal, is estimated to owe VSNL 102 million dollars for carrying international telephone services from the United States to India in recent months.

It has so far paid three billion rupees (62.5 million dollars) to its Indian creditor, VSNL officials said.

"VSNL enjoys a long-standing relation with WorldCom and is quite optimistic about receipt of its dues.

"It has already received three billion rupees from WorldCom in the last few weeks," VSNL operations director N. Srinath said in New Delhi.

VSNL stocks have taken a battering in Indian capital markets amid worries the state-run domestic firm would be unable to extract it dues from WorldCom, after it filed for bankruptcy on Sunday.

Srinath tried to ally investor fears.

"VSNL is closely monitoring the situation and is in touch with WorldCom, it will take all steps necessary to recover its dues.

"These steps include seeking to be on WorldCom's creditors' committee and identification of VSNL as a critical vendor with the consent of WorldCom to ensure that it receives the money due to it," he added.

VSNL, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, says that Worldcom has assured it of a "cordial and professional relationship."

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