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Destination : IRAQ

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.

Iraq is located to the north-west of the Persian Gulf in south-west Asia, and covers 434,924 km2, divided into 18 governorates. The terrain is predominantly low except for the mountain range on the Turkish-Iranian border (highest peak 3,600 m - Kuhe Haji Ebrahim). Geographically the country is divided into two categories: the lowland desert and the Tigris-Euphrates basin (Mesopotamia) which is the agricultural area of the country although high salinity reduces the cultivable potential (12% of the land is arable). Before the two rivers flow into the Persian Gulf, they form the navigable Shatt al-Arab waterway. More than 25% of the population lives in the Governorate of Baghdad.

The climate is mostly arid with very little rainfall. May-September is the hot period with temperatures over 43ºC. In Baghdad and most inland areas the heat is dry and the nights cool, but Basra has high humidity and the nights are hot. Winter temperatures average 11ºC.

Population :22 million (1997 est.). About 70% live in urban areas. Ethnically, there are 79% Arabs, 16% Kurds, 3% Persians, 2% Turks. Capital and Main Cities : Baghdad (capital), Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk

Arabic is the official language spoken by about 80% of the population. Kurdish predominates in Kurdish regions. A small number speak Asyrian, Persian, Turkish and Turkmen.

Islam is the official religion. About 97% of the population are Muslim; 3% are Christian; a small community of Syrian or Armenian orthodox, a small number of Jews, Yazidis and Sabeans.