IAEA visits India amid nuclear deal worries

NEW DELHI: The UN nuclear watchdog's head arrived in India's capital yesterday, as concern grew that a prolonged government row with the communists could scupper a nuclear deal with the United States or spark snap elections.

Mohamed ElBaradei, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, is visiting top government officials in a long-scheduled trip, which coincides with threats from the leftists to withdraw crucial parliamentary support if the deal moves ahead.

Both sides pulled back from the brink in talks on Tuesday, easing fears of imminent elections but raising worries the government was endangering the nuclear accord with prolonged debate.