US Congressman backs Indo-US nuclear pact

"I am leaning towards the nuclear agreement," said Dan Burton, a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US House of Representatives.

"But we want a definite separation between civilian and military (components of India's nuclear programme). If that is assured, I am quite sure it will be addressed," he said on the sidelines of a meeting with delegates of an Indian trade promotion group.

In July, the United States said it would change laws and work to amend international treaties designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and allow India to buy civilian nuclear technology.

In return, New Delhi, which tested nuclear weapons in May 1998, would have to identify its military and civilian nuclear facilities and place the later under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections.