Saturday, May 28 2005 11:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India has offered its readiness to help Iraq draft its new Constitution, C R Gharekhan, Prime Minister's special envoy for West Asia, said yesterday (May 27, 2005).

New Delhi's offer was contained in a letter by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh handed over by Gharekhan to Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari during his recent visit to the war-ravaged country.

Appreciative of Singh's offer, the Iraqi Premier said he would like to avail of India's experience and expertise in this respect, Gharekhan said.

Drafting of the new Constitution has to be completed by August 15 this year. India has suggested that Iraq could send a small team to New Delhi to study the Constitution and talk to Constitutional experts.