Key Senate committee backs nuclear deal with India

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A key U.S. Senate committee gave
initial approval on Thursday to a sweeping civilian nuclear
cooperation deal with India, hailing it as the cornerstone of
ties with an important new ally.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved bipartisan
legislation endorsing the deal and setting rules for final
approval on a 16 to 2 vote, with little wrangling over
non-proliferation concerns that had dogged earlier debate over
the agreement.