US seeks way out of nuclear deal impasse

Vienna: The US has told six nations its bid to lift a global ban on nuclear trade with India has stumbled over their objections and pressed them at a New Delhi meeting to relent, diplomats said on Friday.

Members of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) have balked at approving a waiver to its rules allowing business with India without conditions to help finalise Washington's 2005 civilian nuclear cooperation deal with New Delhi.

An August 21-22 NSG meeting dissolved inconclusively after up to 20 member states called for changes to the US waiver draft to ensure Indian access to foreign nuclear markets would not indirectly benefit its atomic bomb programme.

The US-India deal has seriously dismayed pro-disarmament nations and anti-nuclear campaigners.