NEW DELHI, Jan. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday India hoped that the elections in Iraq would be held peacefully, with the full participation of all Iraqis in the democratic process.

    Inaugurating the Center for West Asian Studies at the Jamia Millia Islamia University, he said India remained committed to theprosperity and well being of the people of Iraq, and would do all possible to help with the return of normalcy and in the task of reconstruction ahead.

    He reiterated India's commitment to the prosperity and well-being of Iraq, which will conduct elections Sunday.

    He also urged strategists the world over to give a thought to the impact of growing extra-regional military presence in the Middle East.

    "Strategic thinkers the world over will weigh the possible impact of the large and growing extra-regional military presence in West Asia, or the possibility of radical religious groups seeking to create and fill in a political vacuum in this region," he said.

    Manmohan Singh said there was ample potential for India to evolve broader long-term economic relationship with the Middle East and a more proactive strategy of seeking investments from theregion.

    The prime minister also highlighted potential ties between India and the Middle East that went beyond the historic and cultural to economic - especially expanding energy security options, both in terms of projects and in terms of suppliers. Enditem