Obama: would not change India nuclear deal now

MUMBAI (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who voted in the Senate for a civilian nuclear trade deal between India and the United States, would not seek changes to it at this stage, an Indian news magazine quoted him as saying.

"I voted for the U.S.-India nuclear agreement because India is a strong democracy and a natural strategic partner for the U.S. in the 21st century," he told Outlook magazine, according to a transcript provided by the magazine Friday.

His attitude toward the deal may prove decisive if India fails to finalize the deal before the end of U.S. President George W. Bush's term in January and Obama wins the November U.S. election.

Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shook hands on the deal, which gives India access to U.S. nuclear resources and technology for energy, in 2005. Since then it has been stalled by opposition from the anti-U.S. communist allies of India's coalition government, and at moments almost given up for dead.

The communists this week withdrew support for the Indian government, which now faces a confidence vote despite moving to prop up its position in parliament with the help of a regional party whose leader backs the deal.

If India misses the effective deadline of the November U.S. elections, it may seek to revive the deal under the next administration, although pessimists say it may have to agree to less favorable terms.

Obama noted that the U.N. watchdog agency -- the International Atomic Energy Agency -- and a 45-nation group that controls nuclear trade still had to weigh in on aspects of the deal.

"A final judgment on the deal ... must await the IAEA's approval of a safeguards agreement with India and changes to be agreed (upon) by the Nuclear Suppliers Group," he said.

"At that point, the US Congress will decide whether to approve the agreement. I continue to hope this process can be concluded before the end of the year," Obama said.