WASHINGTON: The US Congress began a key weekend session where the House of Representatives is set to vote the landmark legislation approving the Indo-US nuclear deal.

The House, which completed the debate on Friday, was expected to take up the legislation for voting Saturday afternoon.

In the Senate, an anonymous lawmaker has put a "hold" on consideration of the bill which must be lifted before the agreement is brought to the Senate floor or approved by a unanimous consent agreement next week.

The schedule of the Senate is still fluid but it met on Saturday, with a possible meeting today and re-convening on Wednesday. after taking a break on Monday and Tuesday on account of Jewish holidays.

The debate in the House on the Indo-US accord came to a close late Friday evening and as lawmakers gathered for the special session today, the formal vote is likely to come up sometime this afternoon.

Senior House staffers pointed out earlier that there are as many as 45 bills that will have to be debated under the suspension rules prior to the House breaking away for the first vote.

On the Senate side, Majority leader Harry Reid, did not mention the US-India nuclear agreement, which came to the upper House after its Foreign Relations Committee cleared it on September 23.
Source : DNA