Thursday, May 11 2006 11:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Melbourne: Australia would consider selling uranium to India and may change its rules banning such exports to countries that have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a media report said here today (May 11, 2006).

The issue of uranium supply to India came up for discussion Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran had with an Australian foreign ministry delegation last week in New Delhi, 'The Australian' newspaper said.

The Australian delegation was led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Deputy Secretary David Ritchie, the report said.

It said Australia may agree to change its ban on exporting uranium to countries that have not signed NPT if there was 'suitable reciprocal movement' from India.

India is not a signatory to the NPT.

A spokesperson of DFAT confirmed the meeting but said details of the discussions were confidential.

However, she said "There are no current intentions to change Australia's long-standing policy of only selling uranium to countries that are party to the nuclear NPT and with which we have a bilateral safeguards agreement."