India freed from nuclear trade ban

07/09/2008 08:18:10

The group of countries which controls the international nuclear trade has lifted the ban on trade with India.

Our reporter Claire Mackay reports from New Delhi, the decision clears a major hurdle in implementing a controversial U-S India nuclear deal.

The decision by 45 nuclear supplier nations to end the ban means India can share nuclear technology with countries like the United States and Australia. India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says the agreement is momentous.

But the country's opposition parties say India has walked into a U-S non-proliferation trap and is giving up its right to test nuclear weapons. India is not part of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The Australian government says it will trade nuclear technology with India but will not provide uranium.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group was set up in 1974 when India exploded a bomb using plutonium from Canada.

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