NEW YORK, Oct 26: UN special envoy for Iraq Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said on Monday that the United Nations was willing to mediate a peaceful solution in Fallujah , and warned that continued US offensive could further divide the Iraqi nation.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mr Qazi said "there is a concern with respect primarily to civilian casualties which are taking place and the impact it could have for the political process."

Asked if the UN had offered to intervene in the Fallujah standoff, Mr Qazi said, "The UN is ready to do anything, anywhere, which can strengthen the political process through promoting national reconciliation."

Mr Qazi expressed optimism that the Iraqi government would continue talks with leaders in Falluja.

Mr Qazi said the UN hoped to convince all major parties to embrace the election process. Proposals to exclude certain restive cities, such as Falluja and Ramadi, were no longer being actively considered, he said.

"The elections need to not only take place on time, but they've got to be credible, comprehensive and everywhere…. It would not be a positive development if elections were not held in a significant part of the country or a significant part of the population were not able to participate," Mr Qazi told the paper.

"We must at all times give priority to the security," Qazi said.

So far, only seven UN election experts are working in Iraq. The international body has agreed to send 35 staffers to the country.

When he was reminded that the UN worked effectively to organize elections in Afghanistan but was ignoring Iraq as alleged by some Iraqi officials, Mr Qazi called such comparisons inappropriate because the UN mandate in Iraq was to advise the Iraqi Electoral Commission, not to supervise the election.