PM may meet Musharraf in New York

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have a breakfast meeting with US President George W Bush on September 21 in New York and is likely to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf the next day on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

A hectic schedule awaits Singh who leaves on an eight-day trip on September 19 for participating in the UN General Assembly session in New York with a stopover at London, where he will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Official sources said Singh's meeting with Bush will take place on September 21 and with Musharraf "most probably" on September 22.

Singh will deliver his maiden address to the UN General Assembly session on September 23.

He is expected to make out a strong case for reforms of the UN Security Council and India's bid for a permanent seat in it. He is slated to return home on September 26.

Three of the five countries""Russia, France and Britain""permanent members of the Security Council, have extended support for India's candidature.

While the US has remained non-committal on the issue, China, the other member, has said it favoured a larger role for India in the UN but has refrained from expressing support on the issue of permanent seat.

New Delhi expects decision on about 10 of the over 70 proposals exchanged between the two countries during talks on different issues of the composite dialogue.

The eight-point composite dialogue comprises peace and security, including confidence-building measures, J & K, Wullar barrage/Tulbul navigation project, Siachen, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields.