NEW DELHI, Aug 20, SPA -- India's prime minister sought to step up pressure on political allies opposed to a landmark nuclearcooperation deal with the United States, saying Monday thatatomic energy was a key to the country's future economicsuccess. The comments by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came as hisgovernment, elected in 2004, faced its worst crisisfollowing days of criticism of the nuclear pact bycommunist political allies who are key to theadministration's survival yet deeply opposed to the deal, the Associated Press reported. «When we aim for a 10 percent (economic) growth rate, wemust recognize the critical importance of energysecurity,» Singh said, arguing that India must findcheaper alternatives to oil and gas imports, which are usedto fuel two-thirds of the country's energy supply. «Our government is committed to the development ofnuclear energy,» he added in a speech in New Delhi.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/476213