The United Nations is ready to assist the Iraqis in the constitutional drafting process only if asked, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said Tuesday.

Eckhard confirmed that the United Nations has some constitutional experts within its ranks to assist the Iraqis, stressing if the request for such assistance came, it would come from the transitional assembly of Iraq, which is a sovereign elected body.

He said as stated in resolution 1546, the United Nations standsready to assist if asked.

"The constitutional drafting process is an Iraqi-owned and Iraqi-led process," he said, adding it is not a constitution that will be imposed from the outside.

The role of the United Nations would be a supportive one, to bring assistance when and where it is needed, he said.

Eckhard also pointed out that the key to the success of this next phase of the transition process is to ensure that all individuals, groups and parties who, for whatever reason, were unable or unwilling to take part in the election are now brought into the constitution-making process.