Washington  - The Bush administration is getting closer to submitting the nuclear cooperation deal with India for congressional approval, the US State Department said Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a series of meetings with House and Senate lawmakers to brief on the details of the agreement. Getting the deal through Congress is a top priority for the White House before President Bush leaves office January.

Congress is tentatively scheduled to recess at the end of this month and it remains unclear whether the legislative body will hold another session this year after the November 4 elections.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US government is still waiting for a final agreement between India and the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) that would allow for inspections of India's civilian nuclear programme.

"I think we're on track to get that up (to Congress), pending that last piece from India and the IAEA," McCormack said.

The United States required the inspections as part of the deal because India is not a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Some lawmakers are uncomfortable with sharing nuclear technology and material with a country that refuses to join the treaty. (dpa)