Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local short form: Al Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
Government type:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Capital:
Baghdad
Administrative divisions:
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968)
Constitution:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Legal system:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Suffrage:
formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Executive branch:
chief of state: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Legislative branch:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Judicial branch:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Political parties and leaders:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Political pressure groups and leaders:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Diplomatic representation from the US:
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria which has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
note: the current Iraqi Governing Council has formed a committee to design a new flag for Iraq that is broadly acceptable to all parties and ethnic/sectarian groups
