Thursday, July 21 2005 11:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last night (July 20, 2005) described the US-led invasion of Iraq as 'a mistake' and said India was willing to assist the war-ravaged country in the reconstruction process.

"As far as Iraq is concerned, it is our sincere opinion that it was a mistake," he said at a press conference at the National Press Club here when asked about his views on the invasion of Iraq.

Observing that the invasion was now a thing of the past, Singh said that the world must look to the future of that country and ensure that democratic institutions take deep roots there.

The Prime Minister likened Iraq with India saying its diversity and complexities, including in terms of religion, were similar to that in his own country, which was a multi-ethnic society.

Iraq had various ethnic and religious groups like the Kurds, Sunnis and Shias, he said adding, the manner in which the Constitution was drawn up and implemented in India could provide some lessons to ushering in proper democracy in the Iraqi polity.

Singh said he had earlier assured the Iraqi leadership that India was willing to work with them to help in the process of economic development and reconstruction of the war-torn nation.