U.S.delegation in India for nuke talks

NEW DELHI, July 3 (UPI) -- A U.S. congressional delegation is in India to discuss a timeline for implementing an agreement on the country's civilian nuclear technology.

The six-member delegation, led by Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., is expected to meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other government officials, Indian broadcaster NDTV reported Thursday.

The nuclear pact has been on hold for several months as allies of India's ruling coalition, United Progressive Alliance, have threatened to withdraw their support for the government if it moves ahead on the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Under the deal, the United States would share civilian nuclear technology with India, and India would allow international inspections of its facilities -- terms the allies say are too favorable to the United States.

If support is withdrawn, political analysts said it could mean the collapse of the Singh's government, the Journal said.

Singh's Congress Party is working to secure support of the Samajwadi Party, a regional party in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, The Journal said. If the government secures the party's support, it is expected to deliver a final decision on going forward with the deal to U.S. President George Bush during next week's G8 summit in Japan.