INDIA: March 18, 2008


NEW DELHI - India's government and its communist allies failed on Monday to break a deadlock over a controversial nuclear deal with the United States, but said they would meet again next month to discuss the pact.


The communists oppose the deal as harmful for India's security and have threatened to bring the government down if it tried to push it through.

But they allowed the government to negotiate India-specific safeguards with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a crucial step in putting the deal into effect, on condition that the outcome of the talks with the IAEA will be reported to them.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee discussed with the communists the salient features of a draft agreement with the IAEA.

"We have sought some clarifications and we will meet again next month," Debabrata Biswas, a communist leader who attended the meeting, said. No date has been set.

Caught up in India's domestic politics, time is running out for the deal. Still to come are clearances from the IAEA board of governors and the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Then, the deal, which promises India access to American nuclear fuel and technology, goes to the US Congress for final approval.

The United States has said the pact may fall through if it doesn't reach the US Congress by July as a short legislative calendar before the Nov. 4 US election could complicate its passage.

India has said it cannot work to a deadline.

(Reporting by Nigam Prusty; Writing by Krittivas Mukherjee)


REUTERS NEWS SERVICE