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| India left ends coalition support | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Communist parties in India say they are withdrawing support for the governing coalition over a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the United States. | Communist parties in India say they are withdrawing support for the governing coalition over a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the United States. |
| The move came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government would press ahead with the deal. | The move came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government would press ahead with the deal. |
| Left-wing parties say the accord would give the US undue influence over India's foreign and nuclear policy. | Left-wing parties say the accord would give the US undue influence over India's foreign and nuclear policy. |
| The Indian government says it needs the deal to meet the country's soaring demands for energy. | The Indian government says it needs the deal to meet the country's soaring demands for energy. |
| India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential elections in November. | India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential elections in November. |
| 'No collapse' | 'No collapse' |
| The communists have 59 members in India's lower house of parliament. | The communists have 59 members in India's lower house of parliament. |
| Analysts say their pulling out of the governing coalition will leave it with 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, a good 46 seats behind the majority mark. | Analysts say their pulling out of the governing coalition will leave it with 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, a good 46 seats behind the majority mark. |
| Mr Singh has described the deal as 'historic' | Mr Singh has described the deal as 'historic' |
| But they say the communists' decision may not lead to a collapse of the government and early elections. | But they say the communists' decision may not lead to a collapse of the government and early elections. |
| Reports say the Congress party has struck a deal with a regional bloc, the Samajwadi Party. | Reports say the Congress party has struck a deal with a regional bloc, the Samajwadi Party. |
| It has been a traditional political foe of Congress, but has hinted that its 39 MPs could end up supporting the governing coalition on the nuclear deal issue. | It has been a traditional political foe of Congress, but has hinted that its 39 MPs could end up supporting the governing coalition on the nuclear deal issue. |
| The communists had been insisting that they would withdraw support if the government went ahead with the deal - something Mr Singh confirmed to reporters en route to the G8 summit in Japan on Monday. | The communists had been insisting that they would withdraw support if the government went ahead with the deal - something Mr Singh confirmed to reporters en route to the G8 summit in Japan on Monday. |
| Communist leader Prakash Karat told reporters that they had sought an appointment with the president "so that we can formally withdraw support tomorrow". | Communist leader Prakash Karat told reporters that they had sought an appointment with the president "so that we can formally withdraw support tomorrow". |
| "In view of the prime minister's announcement that time [to withdraw support] has come," said Mr Karat. | "In view of the prime minister's announcement that time [to withdraw support] has come," said Mr Karat. |
| Another senior communist leader, AB Bardhan, said: "The prime minister had to make this announcement at 30,000ft in the air." | Another senior communist leader, AB Bardhan, said: "The prime minister had to make this announcement at 30,000ft in the air." |
| Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi has convened an urgent party meeting to discuss the withdrawal of support. | Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi has convened an urgent party meeting to discuss the withdrawal of support. |
| Under the terms of the accord, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. | Under the terms of the accord, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. |
| In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. |
| The deal now needs to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade. | The deal now needs to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade. |
| Then it has to be presented to the US Congress for final approval. | Then it has to be presented to the US Congress for final approval. |