Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday explored the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to maximise the trade potential between the two countries, sources said. Sources said the proposal regarding the CECA between India and the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus was discussed between the two sides. The two leaders met at Singh’s Race Course Road residence for about 45 minutes on Thursday, after attending the BRICS summit at Taj Palace hotel.

Belarus said Friday that it would suspend an agreement to give up its supply of highly enriched uranium, torpedoing, at least temporarily, what was considered a significant victory by the Obama administration in curtailing the spread of dangerous nuclear material.

The move comes in response to the latest wave of economic sanctions imposed by Washington this month as punishment for a ruthless crackdown on government opponents, including widespread arrests, that has continued unabated for months.

Opposition protesters marched through the capital of Belarus on Saturday to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and denounce plans to build an atomic power station in the ex-Soviet state. Belarus was the country most affected by the world's worst nuclear accident and the anniversary is traditionally the year's biggest rally for opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko, accused in the West of violating fundamental human rights.