Rice presses Congress to OK nuclear deal with India, Congressman slams NSG

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Congress to approve a nuclear deal with India after the agreement was endorsed Saturday by nations that supply nuclear material and technology. "I certainly hope we can get it through,'' the top U.S. diplomat told reporters as she travelled from Tunisia to Algeria during a trip to North Africa. ``It'd be a huge step for the U.S.-India relationship.'' Rice said she would speak in coming days with the leaders of the appropriate congressional committees to see if the deal can be approved by Congress before it breaks for the rest of the year to campaign for November elections. "We understand that time is very short,'' she said.