US to continue work with India on nuke deal: Rice

Washington, Mar 24 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday that Government is in the process of resolving the political problems in implementation of the US-India civil nuclear cooperation deal.

He told reporters at the joint conference after meeting US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

"We are interested in implementing the landmark agreement reached. But now we have some political problem. Currently we are engaged in the process of resolving them," Mukherjee said.

Rice said the Bush Administration would continue to work towards implementing the US-India nuclear deal.

"It is a landmark agreement which is good for both sides....we will continue to work on that agreement," Rice said.

On negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on India-specific safeguards agreement, Mukherjee said the discussions are over. "The agreement is yet to be initialled and approved by the board of governors of the IAEA."

Mukherjee is to meet President George W Bush and the National Security Advisor Stephan Hadley later before leaving for New York tomorrow on his way back to New Delhi.

India needs to firm up the agreement with the IAEA and secure changes in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) to enable nuclear commerce with it.

The Left parties, stoutly opposing the deal in its present form, have threatened to withdraw support to the government if steps were taken to operationalise it.

ANI