Indo US nuke draft bill cleared by US Senate panel

The crucial Senate Foreign Relations Committee today passed a draft bill seeking implementation of the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal by an overwhelming vote of 16 to 2.

Of the three amendments proposed at the Senate committee, two were approved by voice vote while one was rejected.

By a convincing margin of 13-5, the Committee rejected an amendment by Democrat Senator Russell Feingold requiring US President George W Bush to certify that he has assurances from India that all assistance from US would only be in the realm of civil nuclear cooperation.