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| Independence Year : 1932 Population : 24011816 Life Expectancy : 66.5 Capital : 1365 GNP : 11500.00 GNP Old : 0.00 Local Name : Al-´Iraq Government Form : Republic Location : Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait Terrain : Alluvial plains, mountains, and desert, with many holes caused by various organizations in search forweapons of mass destruction. Climate : mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in c Ethnic Group : Arab 75%-80%, Kurd 15%-20%, Turkman, Chaldean, Assyrian, or others less than 5% Religions : Shia Muslim 60%, Sunni Muslim 32%-37%, Christian 3%, Jewish and Yezidi less than 1% Official Website :www.cabinet.iq |  Genral Information - Iraq Background Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-1988). In August 1990 Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during January-February 1991. The victors did not occupy Iraq, however, thus allowing the regime to stay in control. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. UN trade sanctions remain in effect due to incomplete Iraqi compliance with relevant UNSC resolutions. Without UN backing in March 2003 US-led coalition forces invaded Iraq to terminate the SADDAM Husayn regime, find weapons of mass destruction, and to teach the Middle East a lesson in democracy. |
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