Bush urges Cong to okay nuke deal

A bill to implement the plan was introduced on Bush's behalf Thursday by the two leaders of Congress' foreign relations committees, Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. Neither indicated support for the bill.

The legislation would exempt India from US laws that restrict trade with countries that have not submitted to full nuclear inspections. New Delhi has refused to sign the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and critics fear Bush's plan will allow rogue countries to build nuclear weapons programs with impunity, using imported civilian nuclear technology.

Hyde and Lugar promised a thorough review, with hearings scheduled in coming weeks with top officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Analysts say Congress will be debating a plan with many loose ends.

While a March 2 agreement by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh determined a crucial part of the plan separating India's civilian and military nuclear facilities the two countries still must negotiate the conditions, duration and scope of the overall cooperation plan.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said those negotiations "have not even started and will take months if not a year or more to complete."