Friday, March 10 2006 20:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The Bush administration has submitted a draft proposal to Congress that envisages changes in US atomic energy laws to help pass the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

The proposal is said to have been submitted to both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee.

The administration is seeking changes in the Atomic Energy Act which currently forbids nuclear technology and dual use items to those nations that refuse full scope international safeguards.

The administration's proposal to Congress for relevant modifications in the Atomic Energy Act is based on a number of determinations that have been spelt out in recent days by senior administration officials.

They include a credible separation plan provided by India for the separation of the civilian and military facilities; New Delhi working for a multilateral fissile material cutoff treaty and putting in place tough export control regulations.

It is understood that the draft proposal submitted to the relevant Committees on Capitol Hill is only the first of many things in the process including the language for final clearance.

At a round table with reporters yesterday (Mar 09 2006), the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Richard Boucher said the formal process on Capitol Hill could get underway even as early as next week.