'India has int'l support for civil N-cooperation'

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that there is growing global support for India being given exceptional treatment on civil nuclear cooperation and hoped the bill on this issue will go through the US Congressional process.

"The deal is now in the US Congress. I have always said that I do not control legislative processes in the US. But I still hope it will be passed," he told reporters while returning from his tour of Britain and Finland.

He said India has an assurance from the US government that it is 'very serious' and will use its influence with the Congress to see the deal goes through.

With regard to the process involving the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Dr Singh said discussions have been held with the 45-member grouping on the issue, the latest three days ago.

"I think there is growing support for India's claim," he said, adding all major powers -- the US, Britain, France and Russia -- "support India being given exceptional treatment (with regard to civil nuclear cooperation)."

During his participation in the India-EU Summit in Helsinki, Dr Singh sought support on Friday from the 25-nation European bloc for India's quest for nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

He said he had explained to the EU leaders New Delhi's views that expanding international cooperation through 'forward-looking approaches' in civil nuclear energy is important for countries like India with 'impeccable' non-proliferation credentials.

"We hope that the European Union will be in a position to support forward-looking approaches to enhance international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This will enable countries like India to expand the share of nuclear energy in their national energy baskets," Dr Singh said.

He said the NSG had three days ago given India an opportunity to reiterate its firm commitment to non- proliferation objectives while working with like-minded countries in expanding cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.