Thursday, March 2 2006 14:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India and the U S today(Mar 2,2006) agreed on the framework of the landmark nuclear deal reached in July last between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U S President George W Bush.

"The deal is done. The details are being worked out and the exact language and formulation (of the deal) will be in the joint statement," National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said after the talks between the two leaders.

Addressing a joint press conference with US President George W Bush after their talks, Singh said the finalisation of identification of civilian facilities would begin.

Discussions would be held with the IAEA on the guidelines for bringing the civilian nuclear reactors underits safeguards, he said.

The Prime Minister said the President has given an assurance that he would approach the US Congress for endorsing the deal.

Singh said the two countries have 'arrived at a mutually satisfactory understanding with regard to carrying forward the process' that was reached on July 18 between him and President Bush.

He said an important step forward is the preparation of a plan that separates civilian from nuclear military facilities and 'it has been successfully completed.'

"Now it is for the US government to go to the Congress and make necessary amendments to the laws (for implementing the deal) and to approach the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for working the deal," he said.

India would also work with IAEA to workout the India-specific safeguards for its civilian nuclear facilities," he said.

"We have made a very satisfactory progress and I thank President Bush without whose initiative it would not have been possible," the Prime Minister said.