Wednesday, March 15 2006 15:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India today(Mar 15,2006) said Russia's intention to supply uranium to Tarapur atomic plant violated no international law as it was being done under the safety exception clause of the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines.

Reacting to US reservations on the Russian move, official sources said that the urgently needed fuel was being supplied to Tarapur Atomic Power Station's (TAPS) 'safeguarded units'.

The sources said the supply was being made under the safety exception clause of the NSG guidelines and there was no violation of any international law.

Noting that Tarapur needed the fuel urgently to prevent it from shutting down, the sources said, India had initially asked the US to provide fuel for the plant which was not possible under the current American laws.

A similar request was made to Russia, to which it responded positively, the sources said.

They said this issue was separate from the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.