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| India due for key IAEA briefing | India due for key IAEA briefing |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Indian officials are due to meet members of the world nuclear regulatory body to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities. | Indian officials are due to meet members of the world nuclear regulatory body to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities. |
| The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting a nuclear deal between India and the US. | The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting a nuclear deal between India and the US. |
| Left-wing parties in India withdrew support for the governing coalition in protest against the deal. | Left-wing parties in India withdrew support for the governing coalition in protest against the deal. |
| The government says it is needed to meet soaring energy demands. | The government says it is needed to meet soaring energy demands. |
| Delhi is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential elections in November. | Delhi is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential elections in November. |
| India has to sign a "safeguards agreement" with the IAEA before it can go ahead with the deal. | India has to sign a "safeguards agreement" with the IAEA before it can go ahead with the deal. |
| 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. |
| Restrictions | Restrictions |
| If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval. | If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval. |
| India's communists oppose a partnership with the US | |
| It must then by okayed by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. | It must then by okayed by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. |
| Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will lead a team of officials in Vienna on Friday to brief member countries of the IAEA and Nuclear Suppliers group on the planned safeguards. | Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will lead a team of officials in Vienna on Friday to brief member countries of the IAEA and Nuclear Suppliers group on the planned safeguards. |
| US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns will also be in Vienna during the weekend for "some consultations at the IAEA relating to the nuclear deal [with India]", according to State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. | US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns will also be in Vienna during the weekend for "some consultations at the IAEA relating to the nuclear deal [with India]", according to State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. |
| A special meeting of the 35-nation IAEA board of governors on the safeguards agreement will take place on 1 August. | A special meeting of the 35-nation IAEA board of governors on the safeguards agreement will take place on 1 August. |
| A restricted draft of India's plans for safeguarding nuclear facilities has been already given to IAEA member nations ahead of the meeting. | A restricted draft of India's plans for safeguarding nuclear facilities has been already given to IAEA member nations ahead of the meeting. |
| Some critics who have seen the draft have said several points in it appear to restrict international monitoring of India's atomic programme. | Some critics who have seen the draft have said several points in it appear to restrict international monitoring of India's atomic programme. |
| NUCLEAR POWER IN INDIA India has 14 reactors in commercial operation and nine under constructionNuclear power supplies about 3% of India's electricityBy 2050, nuclear power is expected to provide 25% of the country's electricityIndia has limited coal and uranium reservesIts huge thorium reserves - about 25% of the world's total - are expected to fuel its nuclear power programme long-termSource: Uranium Information Center | |
| The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India - which has not signed the 1972 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) - after it first tested a nuclear weapon in 1974. | The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India - which has not signed the 1972 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) - after it first tested a nuclear weapon in 1974. |
| Critics of the deal fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes. | Critics of the deal fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes. |
| Meanwhile, left-wing parties in India have launched a national campaign against the nuclear deal. | Meanwhile, left-wing parties in India have launched a national campaign against the nuclear deal. |
| The governing coalition, which has now been reduced to a minority after its communist allies withdrew support, will seek a vote of confidence on 22 July. | The governing coalition, which has now been reduced to a minority after its communist allies withdrew support, will seek a vote of confidence on 22 July. |
| If the government loses the vote, India faces early elections and the nuclear deal would probably be scuttled. | If the government loses the vote, India faces early elections and the nuclear deal would probably be scuttled. |