India and France have signed a major co-operation pact which paves the way for the sale of French nuclear reactors to Delhi, officials say.
The nuclear accord was agreed in Paris India must wait further for nuclear fuel deal ...
Key party backs US-India nuclear deal ... between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The deal "will form the basis for enlarged bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy and research", the French presidency said in a statement.
It was signed following a meeting between the two leaders on Tuesday.
The agreement was concluded days after the US House of Representatives passed a pact that would allow the US to provide nuclear materials to India.
The upper house of the American Congress, the Senate, is expected to vote on the deal later this week.
Earlier this month, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) lifted a ban that had denied India access to the international nuclear market.
'New status'
India says the agreement with the US is vital for it to meet its growing energy demands. Critics say it creates a dangerous precedent.
They say the deal allows India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must.
Under the terms of the deal, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel.
In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits.
Mr Singh has said India is close to securing a "new status" in the world nuclear order.
The Framework Agreement for Civil Nuclear Co-operation was agreed with France in January.
Reports say the deal includes providing India with France's latest model of the European Pressurised Reactor as well as other civilian nuclear material.
'Race against time'
Mr Bush has urged the Senate to "quickly" vote on the deal before it adjourns.
Correspondents say he faces a race against time to sign the deal into law before he leaves office in January.
It was first agreed three years ago and is regarded as a key foreign policy priority for both the Indian and US governments.
The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974.
(BBC)
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