'Rice defends US-India civilian nuclear deal'

According to the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the US deal with India on nuclear energy cooperation will be good for both countries.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday the US deal with India on nuclear energy cooperation will be good for both countries and for global efforts to prevent the spread of atomic technology that could be used to make bombs.

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The pact would end more than three decades of nuclear isolation for India by opening its civilian reactors to international inspections in exchange for the nuclear fuel and technology. Previously, India has been denied such outside help because of its refusal to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and its testing of atomic weapons.

Rice said Thursday, while on her way to Australia, that India has a good record of not spreading its nuclear technology and that safeguards are built into the deal.

Earlier this week, India's government won a confidence vote that paves the way for the agreement to move forward, although it also much be approved by the US Congress.