NEW DELHI, July 22: The United States said on Friday India would have to wait for changes in the laws governing the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) before being allowed to buy N-fuel from any one of the members. “The US is prepared to work with the Congress and its allies in the NSG to change rules to allow India access to civil nuclear technology and fuel,” Robert O. Blake, charged’ affairs at the US embassywas quoted by agencies as saying .

He stressed that NSG laws have to be changed before India approaches any of the nuclear fuel suppliers like France.

A statement from the French embassy left the issue even more opaque.

“France takes positive note of the important agreement between the United States and India on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” the statement said .

“This development is in line with the effort initiated by President Chirac several years ago, in particular in the G8, to allow major emerging industrial countries access to civilian nuclear energy,” the statement said.

“It goes without saying, and we’ve always maintained this, that anything done in this area must be compatible with the non-proliferation regime.”