India awaits approval for nuclear power

MUMBAI, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- India's leaders were told the United States will push the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal through the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assured reporters the deal is a focus of the U.S. Congress as it returns to session, Asia Pulse Data Source reported.

India and the United States have redrafted the Nuclear Supplies Group waiver, and Rice said the United States wants to finish the civil nuclear deal with India by early next month.

The deal reportedly already cleared the International Atomic Energy Agency and will be presented in Vienna at the next NSG meeting Sept. 4. Approval from the 45-nation NSG is a crucial step in the implementation of the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal. It will go to the meeting after a vote from the U.S. Congress.

At its Aug. 21 meeting, the NSG did not reach a consensus for the waiver, and now that all of the requested amendments have been made, leaders in both nations are hopeful a deal will be finalized.