NEW DELHI - India on Saturday dismissed speculation that it has been in backroom negotiations with the United States to push back any action on a legally binding treaty on climate change at the Durban climate summit, reported the Press Trust of India.

Jayant Mauskar, India's lead negotiator at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change summit in Durban, South Africa, described the speculation as mere "rumors", according to the report.

Both India and the US are resisting agreeing on a "legal form" for future steps to cut green house gas emissions at the Durban climate summit, as was proposed by the European Union (EU).

On another EU proposal of all major emitters taking on climate cuts, Mauskar said that countries did not negotiate under " conditions" but were more open to "reassurances and mutual reassurances", according to the report.

The Indian official also said that emerging economies of BASIC countries (Brazil, India, South Africa and China) were taking identical stands at the Durban summit.