GENEVA - Talks to ban nuclear testing hit a crisis stage yesterday after a firm threat by India to torpedo a draft treaty before it can go to the UN General Assembly next month. For a draft treaty that was supposed to be approved at a UN Disarmament Conference plenary tomorrow, such "informal consultations" at the 11th hour suggested that the talks were on the verge of collapse.
Western diplomats said India was poised to make good on its threat to veto the draft, which should have unanimous support before it goes before all UN member states in New York in late September.