New Delhi - Days after a landmark civilian nuclear deal was approved by the United States Congress, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks in the Indian capital Saturday, but could not sign the agreement due to administrative hitches.

Addressing a joint press briefing with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee after more than an hour of discussions, Rice said, "the 123 Agreement is done. ... We don't have any open issues."

Only the "administrative matter" of signing remained, she added.

The Congress on Monday approved the deal, which allows the US to export nuclear materials and technology for India's civilian nuclear energy programme ending a 30-year ban. It was earlier expected that the signing of the agreement would take place during Rice's visit to India.

The delay in signing the 123 agreement was due to administrative details that had to be tied up and also because it had been a busy time for the US Congress over the past couple of days, Rice said.

Mukherjee clarified that the signing would take place at a mutually agreed date after Bush signed the Congressional bill approving the 123 agreement into law.

It is believed that India has some concerns over the bill and expects Bush to remove these in a statement when he signs the legislation.

Rice said Bush would make it clear that the domestic US legislation allowing the bilateral 123 Agreement was consistent with it. "The US will stand by its commitments (to India)," she said adding that it was amply evident the agreement had broad, deep and bipartisan support.

The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, which was agreed in principle by Bush and Singh in 2005, took three years of negotiations and was opposed by sections both in India and the US.

It allows US companies to export technology and materials for India's civilian nuclear energy programme while India will open its reactors to international inspection.

The 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, which controls international trade in fissile materials, changed its rules in September after a US request to allow nuclear trade with India, despite the country's refusal to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Rice also said India's entering the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) framework - allowing international safeguards for its civilian reactors - would strengthen the cause of non-proliferation.

India has to sign a country-specific agreement with the IAEA before US companies can do business in India.

The non-proliferation lobby in the US have been against the deal fearing it may increase a global nuclear arms race.

In India, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the left parties opposed the deal saying it compromised the country's strategic sovereignty.

Prime Minister Singh has pushed for the deal saying it was a crucial step in helping to meet India's growing energy needs.

Both Rice and Mukherjee said Saturday that India-US relations went much beyond the nuclear deal. Under Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, bilateral relations had entered a deeper and broader phase, with immense future potential, they said.

The cooperation encompassed trade, defence, technology and education sectors as well as energy, the leaders said.

"As President Bush readies to pass over to a successor the US's strong relationships around the world, this will continue to be one of the strongest," Rice said.

Rice and Mukherjee said they had substantive and wideranging discussions which included issues of trade, economy, terrorism, climate change and regional concerns, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Rice is scheduled to hold a dinner meeting with the Indian prime minister and is expected to leave for Kazakhstan early Sunday.