Government type: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Capital: Baghdad

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 17 July (1968)

Constitution: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Legal system: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Suffrage: formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Executive branch: chief of state: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Legislative branch: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Judicial branch: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Political parties and leaders: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Political pressure groups and leaders: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

International organization participation: 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

Diplomatic representation in the US: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Diplomatic representation from the US: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Flag description: 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

NOTE: The information regarding Iraq on this page is re-published from the 2003 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guinea Geography 2003 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Iraq Government 2003 should be addressed to the CIA.