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Indian parliament stalls over US nuke deal
New Delhi (AFP) Sept 6, 2007 India's opposition stalled parliament on Thursday over a controversial nuclear accord with the United States as it demanded a joint parliamentary probe into the deal. The pact, concluded in August, seeks to bring New Delhi into the loop of global atomic commerce after a gap of more than three decades. But it has been rejected by the Congress-led government's communist allies and the opposition, who say the agreement threatens India's sovereignty and will curb its military capability. Trouble started soon after parliament began its session, with MPs of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shouting, "Form a joint parliamentary committee to save the nation!" The Hindu nationalist BJP has rejected a 15-member panel composed of government ministers and communist leaders announced on Tuesday to review objections against the accord. With both houses unable to transact business, parliament was adjourned till Friday. Parliament has regularly been thrown into turmoil by opposition protests against the nuclear agreement, which the government insists is needed to provide new energy sources to help sustain India's rapidly-growing economy. Despite the pressure, the government was unmoved, with foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee rejecting the BJP's demand to be part of a joint committee. "The government's continuance is dependent on the (communists') support" and not on the BJP, Mukherjee told reporters, referring to the parties that prop up the minority government in parliament. The communists have told the government not to implement the deal until all doubts about it are settled. The agreement allows India to buy civilian nuclear technology while possessing nuclear weapons despite not having signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. New Delhi must conclude an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group before it can buy power plants and technology. The deal, the cornerstone of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's foreign policy, also requires approval by the US Congress before it can be implemented. Related Links Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Areva pledges commitment to peace in Niger's uranium zone
Niamey (AFP) Sept 5, 2007French nuclear engineering group Areva has assured Niger of its commitment to peace in a nation where it has been accused of financing Tuareg rebel unrest where it mines uranium, state media reported Wednesday. |
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