US Senate approves Indian N-deal

WASHINGTON - The US Congress gave final approval to a breakthrough agreement permitting nuclear trade with India for the first time in three decades.

The Senate voted 86-13 on the nuclear sharing agreement, reversing more than 30 years of US policy in exchange for international inspections of India’s civilian nuclear energy programme. The House of Representatives passed the measure in a 298-117 vote on Saturday. The action handed a rare foreign policy victory to President George W Bush in the twilight of his administration and culminating a three-year debate that raised alarms about a new arms race and nearly toppled the govt of India.