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| Bush and Singh push nuclear deal | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has telephoned Indian PM Manmohan Singh to discuss the controversial civil nuclear deal between the two countries. | |
| The White House said the two men talked of their determination to cement a major civilian nuclear energy agreement between their countries. | The White House said the two men talked of their determination to cement a major civilian nuclear energy agreement between their countries. |
| The deal has been bitterly opposed by some opposition parties in India. | The deal has been bitterly opposed by some opposition parties in India. |
| The government was forced to face a parliamentary vote of confidence on the issue which it won on Tuesday. | The government was forced to face a parliamentary vote of confidence on the issue which it won on Tuesday. |
| The two leaders also discussed the importance of securing a global trade deal at the current World Trade Organisation negotiations in Geneva. | The two leaders also discussed the importance of securing a global trade deal at the current World Trade Organisation negotiations in Geneva. |
| 'Look forward' | 'Look forward' |
| "Both leaders expressed their desire to see the US-India civil nuclear issue move forward as expeditiously as possible," news agency Associated Press quoted US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe as saying. | "Both leaders expressed their desire to see the US-India civil nuclear issue move forward as expeditiously as possible," news agency Associated Press quoted US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe as saying. |
| President Bush told Mr Singh "he looks forward to continuing to work with his government to strengthen the United States-India strategic relationship," Mr Johndroe said. | President Bush told Mr Singh "he looks forward to continuing to work with his government to strengthen the United States-India strategic relationship," Mr Johndroe said. |
| The two leaders also discussed the stalled WTO talks in Geneva during their conversation on Thursday night. | The two leaders also discussed the stalled WTO talks in Geneva during their conversation on Thursday night. |
| The deal would give India access to nuclear fuel and technology | The deal would give India access to nuclear fuel and technology |
| Mr Singh's government survived a vote of confidence over the nuclear deal on Tuesday. | Mr Singh's government survived a vote of confidence over the nuclear deal on Tuesday. |
| The vote came after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest at the controversial accord. | The vote came after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest at the controversial accord. |
| If the government had lost the vote, India would have faced early elections, casting the nuclear deal in doubt. | If the government had lost the vote, India would have faced early elections, casting the nuclear deal in doubt. |
| Under the accord, India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. | Under the accord, India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. |
| In return its civilian nuclear facilities would be opened to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | In return its civilian nuclear facilities would be opened to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. |
| The communists fear the accord could give the US too much influence over Indian foreign and nuclear policy. | The communists fear the accord could give the US too much influence over Indian foreign and nuclear policy. |
| The main opposition Hindu nationalist BJP fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future. | The main opposition Hindu nationalist BJP fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future. |
| Key condition | Key condition |
| India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential election in November. | India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential election in November. |
| Last week, Indian officials met members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world nuclear regulatory body, in Vienna to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities. | Last week, Indian officials met members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world nuclear regulatory body, in Vienna to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities. |
| The IAEA's approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting the deal. | The IAEA's approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting the deal. |
| If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), 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 (NSG), which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval. |
| India has sent out senior ministers and diplomats to solicit the support of members of the IAEA and NSG. | India has sent out senior ministers and diplomats to solicit the support of members of the IAEA and NSG. |
| The deal has to be finally approved by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. | The deal has to be finally approved by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. |
| 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. |