Manmohan's move to clear air on nuke deal

Manmohan Singh met scientific and national security advisers as well as with the country's top atomic energy official Wednesday in preparation for the statement Thursday, the spokesman said.

Singh is expected to try to allay concerns raised by top scientists and his communist allies that the deal will excessively curtail India's nuclear weapons program.

Eight nuclear scientists issued a joint statement Monday, saying parliament must "insist on the ground rules for the nuclear deal" that ensure the nuclear arsenal is not endangered.

Under the agreement India will open most of its civilian reactors to international inspection but keep pre-selected military nuclear facilities out of public scrutiny.

The cooperation deal must be approved by the US Senate after passing the House of Representatives 359-68. Several commentators as well as the communists believe the upper house will attempt to increase restrictions on the Indian nuclear weapons program.

The United States began withholding civilian nuclear know-how from India in 1974 after it conducted its first nuclear test.

India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 and, as a result, is banned by the United States and other major powers from buying fuel for atomic reactors and other related equipment.

The current deal was reached during a visit in March to New Delhi by US President George W. Bush.

Some US politicians have expressed doubts about extending civilian nuclear technology to India, which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, without first putting the most stringent safeguards in place.