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US agrees on India nuclear bill US agrees on India nuclear bill
(about 3 hours later)
US Congress negotiators have agreed on the law which will allow the US to export civilian nuclear fuel to India. US Congress negotiators have agreed on a law which will allow the US to export civilian nuclear fuel to India.
The bill will still have to be approved by both houses of Congress. The House of Representatives is due to consider it on Friday.The bill will still have to be approved by both houses of Congress. The House of Representatives is due to consider it on Friday.
The deal offers US nuclear technology to India in exchange for inspectors' access to Indian civilian reactors. The deal offers India US nuclear technology in exchange for inspectors' access to Indian civilian reactors.
The accord has been hailed as historic by some, but critics say it will damage non-proliferation efforts.The accord has been hailed as historic by some, but critics say it will damage non-proliferation efforts.
The exact details of the new law are not yet known.The exact details of the new law are not yet known.
'Compromise bill'
The BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Washington says lawmakers have reportedly fine-tuned the language and softened certain conditions in the nuclear agreement in order to accommodate the Indian government's reservations about the deal.
Supporters of the bill, backed by the White House, are confident that the "compromise bill" will be acceptable to the Indian government, he says.
Earlier, a senior US state department official, Nicholas Burns - who is visiting the Indian capital, Delhi - said he anticipated what he described as a very successful and supportive bill, well within the parameters of an agreement signed between India and the US.Earlier, a senior US state department official, Nicholas Burns - who is visiting the Indian capital, Delhi - said he anticipated what he described as a very successful and supportive bill, well within the parameters of an agreement signed between India and the US.
The proposed agreement reverses US policy to restrict nuclear co-operation with Delhi because it has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has twice tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998.The proposed agreement reverses US policy to restrict nuclear co-operation with Delhi because it has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has twice tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998.
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 Global nuclear powersNUCLEAR 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 Global nuclear powers
US President George W Bush finalised the agreement during a landmark trip to India in March.US President George W Bush finalised the agreement during a landmark trip to India in March.
US Senate and House of Representatives committees had backed the deal in June. US Senate and House of Representatives committees backed the deal in June.
Under the deal, energy-hungry India will get access to US civil nuclear technology and fuel, in return for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection.Under the deal, energy-hungry India will get access to US civil nuclear technology and fuel, in return for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection.
But its nuclear weapons sites will remain off-limits.But its nuclear weapons sites will remain off-limits.
Critics of the deal say it could boost India's nuclear arsenal and sends the wrong message to countries like Iran, whose nuclear ambitions Washington opposes.Critics of the deal say it could boost India's nuclear arsenal and sends the wrong message to countries like Iran, whose nuclear ambitions Washington opposes.
India has made clear that the final agreement must not bind it to supporting the US's Iran policy and does not prevent it from developing its own fissile material. India has made clear that the final agreement must not bind it to supporting the US policy on Iran and does not prevent it from developing its own fissile material.