Doubts emerge over Oz uranium sale

Melbourne, Aug 16: Doubts are emerging about Australia's plans to export uranium to India even before the Prime Ministers of the two countries meet to discuss cabinet's decision in favour of the yellowcake shipment.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer warned that no uranium would be exported to India until the conclusion of the agreement between the US and India on nuclear power.

Downer said Australia would "first of all" have to await the signing of a US-India pact to transfer civilian nuclear fuel and technology before Australian uranium went to India.

The Howard Government decided in principle to export uranium to India Tuesday, on conditional safeguards. The US State Department yesterday warned that an Indian atomic test could sabotage the deal, The Australian reported.

In Canberra, the Labour Party demanded the Howard Government to immediately review the pending decision to sell uranium to India.

"The Indian Government won't rule out nuclear testing and Australia has multiple international treaty obligations that the government should uphold," Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman, Robert McClelland, said.

Australia is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, whereas India is not. Its refusal to sign up to the agreement has intensified fears that uranium for Indian power plants could be diverted for military purposes.

Downer told the ABC that Australia could have its own and International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors checking Indian nuclear plants to ensure proper use of the uranium if the exports are allowed.

Ziggy Switkowski, chairman of the Australian National Science and Technology Organisation and the author of John Howard's report on the nuclear industry, said he thought it was appropriate that Australia made its nuclear agreement with India conditional.

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