Burns coming next week for further talks on N deal

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns will arrive here next week for further discussions on the civilian nuclear agreement, sources said today.

The visit follows a letter written by seven US Senators to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking India to sever military ties with Iran.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon had also visited Washington recently and held discussions with Bush Administration officials on the deal.

The sources also ruled out India foreclosing its testing option and there was no question of the 123 agreement restricting India's strategic nuclear programme.

''It is strict no no for us...'', the sources added.

They sources, however, said it was important to finalise the deal as quickly as possible.

They said the other parts of the negotiations -- on the 123 agreement, and with the IAEA and the NSG -- would have to be done quickly.

While India was engaged with the IAEA, the US would hold negotiations with the NSG.

''Let the US handle the NSG...We don't expect the negotiations with the IAEA to be difficult,'' the sources added.

UNI