MOSCOW, April 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's foreign debt rose 20.4% in 2006, to $309.7 billion, the Central Bank of Russia said Monday.

Russia's foreign debt increased in 2006 due to greater borrowing by the private sector, while government liabilities declined in the reporting period, the CBR said.

Russia's foreign debt stood at $257.2 billion as of January 1, 2006, and rose to $309.7 billion as of January 1, 2007, with short-term liabilities growing from $43.5 billion to $55.7 billion and long-term obligations increasing from $213.7 billion to $254.1 billion, the CBR said.

The Russian government's foreign debt declined from $71.1 billion to $45.1 billion and its outstanding debt from $6.5 billion to $2.8 billion in the reporting period, the CBR said.

The foreign debt of Russia's monetary authorities decreased from $11 billion to $3.9 billion in 2006, the CBR said.

At the same time, banks' foreign liabilities grew more than twofold, from $49.9 billion to $100.8 billion, while other sectors also increased their debt to foreign investors from $112.6 billion to $138.5 billion through direct borrowing and the issue of debt securities, the CBR said.

The debt liabilities of banks and companies to direct investors increased from $12.5 billion to $21.4 billion in the reporting period, the CBR said.