Australia likely to support Indo-US N-deal

Australia is likely to support the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in the powerful Nuclear Suppliers Group where Canberra expects other members of the exclusive forum also to endorse the pact.

"It is likely we will support that agreement in the suppliers group," Australian Prime Minister John Howard said, adding the government would only change its policy if it was completely satisfied that appropriate safeguards were in place when it was supplying uranium to another country.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met Howard on Thursday to seek Australia's support for the deal in the NSG.

"So far as a change of policy is concerned, we have not changed our policy. But I think I have indicated in the past that I would not rule out a change," Howard said.

"There is no pressing urgency in relation to this issue," he said, adding, "It is a little premature because there are still aspects of the agreement between the Indians and the US that need to be nailed down and I don't think we should run ahead of ourselves."

"We see India as a very responsible country. The relationship between India and Australia is growing. It is a very important relationship. They will be considerations that we will bear in mind but other considerations, of course, are safeguards," Howard was quoted as saying in the media.

The backing of the NSG is crucial to the historic deal between India and the US, struck last year and paving the way for a potential turnaround in Australia's nuclear supply policy.

"We would never agree to supply uranium to a country unless we were completely satisfied that appropriate and enforceable and effective safeguards existed," the prime minister said.