Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq
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Government type:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Capital:
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Baghdad
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
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National holiday:
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Revolution Day, 17 July (1968)
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Constitution:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Legal system:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Suffrage:
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formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Legislative branch:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Judicial branch:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Political parties and leaders:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, EAPC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
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Flag description:
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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
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