From correspondents in Brussels, Belgium, 03:31 PM IST

The European Commission Wednesday levied a record 1.06 billion-euro ($1.45-billion) fine on Intel after finding the US computer chipmaker guilty of using illegal practices to squeeze its main rival out of European markets.

'The commission found that Intel abused its dominant position in the computer chips market,' said EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes in announcing the decision.

The fine is the largest of its kind in EU history.

The European Union executive in Brussels formally launched its anti-trust probe into the world's biggest chip maker in 2001, acting on complaints filed by rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

(Staff Writer, © IANS)