Obama to meet Singh, Gilani on the sidelines of nuclear summit

US president Barack Obama and prime minister Manmohan Singh will meet here next week on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit, during which the two leaders will discuss the civil nuclear deal and other regional issues.

Obama will also meet Pakistani premier Yusuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the summit.

This would be the first meeting between Obama and Singh after the the November 24 White House state dinner in Washington.

However, diplomatic sources ruled out any bilateral meeting between Singh and Gilani on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington next week, which wouldbe attended by leaders from more than 40 countries.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said besides a host of bilateral and regional issues, the civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries is expected to figure between Obama and Singh when they meet in Washington next week.

"As part of the Nuclear Security Summit, the (US) president is currently planning to host a number of bilateral meetings.

"Those include President Sargsian of Armenia, President Hu Jintao of China, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Singh, King Abdullah II of Jordan; Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia, Prime Minister of Pakistan, President Zuma of South Africa and President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan," Gibbs told reporters.