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 (1980-88). In August 1990 Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. 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. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions during the past 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government.

Full country name: Republic of Iraq
Area: 437,072 sq km
Population: 24,001,816 (July 2002 est.)
Capital city: Baghdad
People: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Language: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Religion: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Government: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
President: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

GDP: US$59 billion
GDP per head:
Annual growth: -5.7%
Inflation:
Major industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing
Major export partners: US 46.2%, Italy 12.2%, France 9.6%, Spain 8.6% (2000)
Major import partners: France 22.5%, Australia 22%, China 5.8%, Russia 5.8% (2000)

Information obtained from
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/iz.html
(Accurate as of May 2003)