'India and US not yet clinched nuclear cooperation deal'

India and the United States have not yet clinched a nuclear co-operation deal, a top Indian official said Tuesday, a day before US President George W. Bush is due to arrive.
"The fact is that until we have all the loose ends tied up, unless we have a deal, we have no deal," said Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran at a press briefing.
Bush leaves late Tuesday for a three-day visit to India, hopeful of finalising an agreement to bolster bilateral co-operation on civilian nuclear energy.
"It certainly would have made us very happy if we had the agreement in place for this to be announced during President Bush's visit to India," said Saran, the top foreign ministry official. "If for whatever reason (it) cannot be concluded before the visit we will, I presume, continue to negotiate."
The proposed deal was announced as part of a strategic partnership launched when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the United States last summer, but seven months on both sides say there is still work to be done.
India, which has refused to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, is required to separate its nuclear programme into military and civilian components with the later under international inspection.
In exchange for safeguards the United States would work to change domestic and international laws so that India would be allowed to buy civilian nuclear technology from which it is currently excluded.
"Gaps remain on the nature of the separation, of the safeguards to be applied," said Saran. "Our effort has been not to leave unfinished business which could create difficulties later on."
Saran also mapped out Bush's plans during his stay in India, which will be capped by an address to be broadcast live on Indian television from the medieval Purana Qila fort.
"The president is looking at an address that will be his main message to the India people," Saran said.
The foreign secretary told reporters trade would be a key focus and important agreements were expected in other areas including terrorism and defence co-operation.