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Iraq

Officially known as Republic of Iraq is located in Western Asia.The capital city, Baghdad is situated in the center-east.Iraq shares it’s border with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordon to the west, Syria to the north west,Turkey to the north and Iran to the east.There are two main rivers:the Tigris and the Euphrates.These two provide a fecund land in spite of the Syrian Desert at the eastern region and Arabian Desert at the northern part.

It has been recently reported in Failed States Index, produced by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace\'s Foreign Policy magazine in 2007, that Iraq is world’s second most unsteady country (Sudan is first).It is a consequence of a multinational alliance of forces mainly America and Britain since 2003.The effect of the encroachment ranges from civil violence, political instability, economic disbalance, to the removal of former president Saddam Hussein.

HISTORY:-

For over nine centuries Iraq was ruled by the Persians.In the 6th century Cyrus the Great and then Alexander the Great ruled over the region.Later Parthians and Sassanid Parsians conquered Mesopotamia.

In the beginning of 7th century Islam was spread by Muslim Arab Commander Khalid ibn al-Walid. Ali the 4th prophet and mohammad’s cousin and son in law shifted his capital to Kufa "fi al-Iraq". The capital city Baghdad was built by Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century.Baghdad had been the largest city of the middle ages.

In 13th century Iraq was captured by the Mongols.In 1257 Halagu Khan invaded Iraq and destroyed Baghdad,Abbasid Caliphate and the grand library. In 1401 Tamur Lane attacked Iraq and murdered 20000 inhabitants.

Ottomans conquered Baghdad from Persians in 1535,lost to Iranian Safavids in 1609 and regained the control in 1632. In 1831 Ottamans took over Iraq until the world war 1st ,in which they took the side of central powers.During the decomposition of Ottaman empire,UK drove away the Ottomans from most of the places. The League of Nations sanctioned UK command over Iraq.

After the war,Iraq was formed as a single country collaborating Baghdad,Barsa and Masul.British armed force overthrew Arab and Kurdish rebellions and crowned the Hashemite king,Faisal. The Hashemites ruled until 1958,when they were defeated by Iraqi army in 14th July Revolution.

Saddam Hussein(1979-2003)was crowned as the President of Iraqi territory, killing many of his antagonists.During Hussein’s rule some important political events took place ranging from Iraq-Iran war(1980),war against Kuwait(1990),Saddam-bush collision over appointing UN weapon inspector(1998)in Iraq,to Saddam’s stooping down to allow the weapon inspector(2002).By that time Iraq was included in the ‘Axis of Evil’ by US president Bush.A US formed amulgamation attacked Iraq(2003).After the invasion, the United States set up the Coalition Provisional Authority to regulate Iraq.

Saddam Hussein was hanged to death On 30th December, 2006.

GEOGRAPHY:-_Iraq is situated in Western Asia.The land of Iraq is spanned around 437,072 sq km (land: 432,162 sq km, water: 4,910 sq km).It’s the 58th largest country.Iraq is mainly formed of deserts. The northern part of the country is composed of Zagros mountain range.The highest peak (3611 m) is locally known as Cheekah Dar. The lowest point is Persian Gulf (0 m).It has a coastline of 58 km along the Persian Gulf.

CLIMATE:-Iraq has cool winters and dry burning and bright summers.The northern mountain range is responsible for the cold weather,sometimes with heavy snowfalls.It also causes flooding to the land.

NATURAL RESOURSES:-Iraq is ranked second (after Saudi Arebia)in the world for it’s oil storage,possessing 112 billion barrels of oil.The United States Department of Energy presumes that 90% of the oil is undiscovered which can produce 100 billion barrels more.Other natural resourses are petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur etc.

GOVERNMENT:-The current Constitution defines Iraq as an Islamic, Democratic, Federal Parliamentary Republic. In Iraq Kurdistan is the only region with its own government. The government is formed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches with other self-directing departments.

1. Executive branch consists of Presidency Council (one president and two vice presidents) and Council of Ministers (one prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and 34 cabinet ministers).

2. Legislative branch consists of Council of Representatives (275 members).

3. Judicial branch consists of Supreme Court and other small courts.

REGIONS:-Iraq is formed of 18 provinces:

ECONOMY:-

Iraq’s economy is mainly governed by it’s oil resourses,which is almost 95% of the whole foreign exchange.

Other Economic Statistics:-

Real growth rate: 5%.

Inflation: 4.7%.

Unemployment: 18%–30%.

Arable land: 13%.

Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry.

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing. .

Exports: $34.04 billion f.o.b. (2007): crude oil (83.9%), crude materials excluding fuels (8.0%), food and live animals (5.0%).

Imports: $23.09 billion f.o.b. (2007): food, medicine, manufactures.

Major trading partners: U.S., Spain, Italy, Canada, Syria, Turkey, Jordan

Monetary unit: U.S. dollar.

CULTURE:- Iraq was historically known as Mesopotamia (“between the rivers” in Greek).It was the birth place of the world’s first civilization,the Sumerian culture and several other cultures.These civilizations gave birth to the first writing and a number of the earliest sciences, mathematics, laws and philosophies,hence the region was named Cradle of civilization.

Iraq is known for music instruments oud (lute) and a rebab (fiddle).Iraq has International stars like Ahmed Mukhtar and the Assyrian Munir Bashir.

Iraqis prefer heavy spicy food. Biryani, Dolma, kababs, tikkas,spices, pickles, Amba are included in their favourite dishes.

Football or soccer is the most popular sport in Iraq. Iraq\'s national football team is the 2007 AFC Asian Cup Champions. Basketball, Swimming, Weightlifting, Bodybuilding, Boxing, Kick Boxing and Tennis are also very popular in Iraq.

LANGUAGE:- Arabic is official language of Iraq,apart from Kurdistan region,where the official language is Kurdish. Assyrian and Armenian are also spoken.

LARGEST CITIES:- The largest city is Baghdad. Other large cities are Mosul, Basra, Irbil, Kirkuk.

POPULATION:- Iraqi population is 28,221,181.

Growth rate: 2.6%

Density per sq mtr: 164

UNICEF:- UNICEF in Iraq is working on child education, tries to supply safe drinking water. UNICEF with WHO has campaigned against measles and polio. The Government of Iraq has taken measures to fight anaemia amongst pregnant women with the help of UNICEF.

WOMEN LIBERATION:-Iraqi women still faces problems establishing their rights.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 31.4/1000

Literacy rate: 74% (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 47.0/1000

Life expectancy: 69.3

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 130

RELIGION:- Islam 97% (Shiite 60%–65%, Sunni 32%–37%)

Christian or other 3%

ETHNICITY:- Arab 75%–80%

Kurdish 15%–20%

Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 2,272 km (2006).

Highways: total: 45,550 km

Waterways: 5,279 km.

Ports and harbors: Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr.

Airports: 110