'France, Russia will give fuel if US doesn't'

NEW DELHI: A top nuclear scientist has said that France and Russia will ensure uninterrupted fuel supply to Indian reactors in the event of America snapping nuclear cooperation.

Former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission M R Srinivasan said the member countries of the Nuclear Suppliers Group have their own laws and could go by their rules and regulations.

"France and Russia have their own rules. They do not require any such stoppage of supply in that contingency," he said when asked what will be the future of nuclear cooperation with India if it conducts a test.

Srinivasan said American laws allow that country's President to ask India to return all supplied fuel and equipment if New Delhi conducts a test.

"Therefore, there is a distinction between America and others specially France and Russia," he said.

His remarks come in the midst of controversy over US President George W Bush's contention that the fuel supply assurances are "not legally binding" for America.

Srinivasan, currently a member of Atomic Energy Commission, said, legally speaking Indian can conduct a nuclear test and in that eventuality "the US can react".

"But in the case of France and Russia, there is a different situation. They are not automatically stopping," he said.