Oz PM conveys uranium sale decision to PM

New Delhi, Aug 16: Australia's Prime Minister John Howard called up Dr Manmohan Singh today to convey his government's decision for the sale of uranium to India.

The Prime Minister thanked Mr Howard and it was agreed that the matter would be discussed further at the official level, a foreign office spokesman told reporters in response to queries.

Earlier, the National Security Committee of the Australian Federal Cabinet had allowed uranium exports to India.

Australia is a key member of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.

India plans to buy uranium from NSG nations after its nuclear deal with the United States is finally through, crossing all the hurdles.

The deal has run into fresh trouble after Dr Singh's August 13 statement in Parliament assuring the members that the agreement with the US did not take away India's right to conduct a test.

Hours after Dr Singh's assurance, a US State Department spokesperson said any nuclear test by India would kill the Indo-US agreement.

UNI