Saturday, July 1 2006 10:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US yesterday (June 30, 2006) said a bill to implement the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear deal that has been cleared by two key committees of lawmakers has to go through 'some more work' and pledged to work with Congress to address 'remaining issues', but without reopening the whole process.

"The way I'd put it is, there are a few remaining issues to be worked out," State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli said, a day after Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bill seeking to make exemptions in American energy laws to enable civilian nuclear cooperation between India and US.

Two days ahead of the Senate Committee hearing, the House International Relations Committee had also approved its version of the bill by a 37 to 5 vote. Ereli said State Deparment was pleased with the quick approval of the deal by both committees.

"We will continue to work with Congress as we have in the past to address remaining issues in the legislation in the bill," he said.

"Obviously, it needs to go through some more work," he said.

He did not specify what were the 'remaining issues' or what kind of changes the legislation is likely to undergo, but said it could be done without 'reopening' the whole process.



"We think that we'll be able to do that without reopening the whole process or changing the path that has been outlined so far," he said.

The legislation, which is to be considered by the full house of the Congress, seeks to make exemptions in Atomic Energy Act 1954 to enable US to sell nuclear technology and fuel to India in return for non-proliferation and safeguards commitments from India.