Australian PM calls Singh, says ready to supply uranium

NEW DELHI: Recognising New Delhi's "strong non-proliferation record," Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday called up his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to say his country was ready to supply uranium to the "increasingly influential regional power".

Implementation of the changed Australian policy will be subject to certain conditions like India negotiating safeguards agreement with the IAEA and finalising the nuclear deal with the US.

India will also have to reach a safeguards agreement with Australia, which is known to have one of the largest reserves of uranium.

Howard called Singh "to inform him of the decision of the Australian government regarding sale of uranium to India," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

Singh thanked Howard and it was agreed that the matter would be discussed further at the official level, Sarna said.

The National Security Committee of the Federal Cabinet agreed on Tuesday to allow uranium shipments to India, despite it not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

However, Canberra linked the supply to New Delhi giving a legal commitment not to conduct a nuclear test.

"The decision recognises India's strong non-proliferation record and will help bring India more fully into the non-proliferation mainstream," Howard said.