The crucial meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal was held in the capital onlhesday, amid strong and divergent views expressed by both sides on the issue that further fuelled speculation about mid-term polls.

All participants of the 15-member panel took part in the meeting held at the office of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the chairman of the committee, in South Block.

Even as there was a talk of another round of discussions between the sides parties early next week, the Left parties are likely to meet later in the dayiotakestqckofthesituation.

Both sides had exchanged notes on the subject to be taken up for discussion onlliesday.

The meeting comes in the back-drop of widening of rift on the nuclear deal with Left parties rejecting a plea of the government

that it be allowed to engage in negotiations with the IAEA.

In their note, the four parties supporting the Congress-led coalition from outside have asked the government whether it can assure that India's foreign and security policies would not be compromised with the global American interests due to the Indo-US defence and nuclear agreements.

The government has sent its reply to the Left note.

Meanwhile, IAEA chief Mohammad El Baradei on Tuesday expressed confidence on firming up nuclear safeguards agreement with India whenever government here decides to talk.

Baradei is currently on a. four-day visit to India.

Earlier, the Left parties appeared to have persuaded the government from going ahead with any negotiations with the IAEA on the nuclear deal for the time being during a meeting they had with UPA leaders.