Iraq

= Iraq=

**Capital:** Baghdad


 * Area:** Iraq has an area of 438,317 sq km (169,235 sq mi).


 * Language:** The official language is [|Arabic] - 80%. 15% Kurdish.


 * Religion:** 45% Sunni Muslim, 50% Shi´ite Muslim, with Druze and Christian minorities.


 * Population:** The population of Iraq (1997 estimate) is 22,219,289. The estimated overall population density is 51 persons per sq km (131 per sq mi). The density varies markedly, with the largest concentrations in the area of the river systems. The population is 75 percent urban.


 * Membership:** Iraq is a member of the UN and [|Arab League], [|OPEC] and [|Organization of the Islamic Conference].


 * Currency:** Iraqi Dinar (IQD) of 1000 fils.


 * Time Difference:** GMT + 3 ( GMT + 4 in summer)

"Although members of the ruling Baath Party generally are ideologically committed to secularism, about 95 percent of Iraqis are Muslim and Islam is the officially recognized state religion. Islam came to the region with the victory of the Muslim armies under Caliph Umar over the Sassanians in A.D. 637 at the battle of Al Qadisiyah. The majority of inhabitants soon became Muslim, including the Kurds, although small communities of Christians and Jews remained intact in the area of present-day Iraq. Iraq has been the scene of many important events in the early history of Islam, including the schism over the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad." Data as of May 1988; Source: __[|////Library of Congress Country Studies////]__

"**Country Overview** Background: Iraq lies in the lower part of the Tigris-Euphrates valley, the heart of one of the four great ancient civilizations. The area was overrun by Arab, Mongol, and Turkish conquerors and became a British mandate following World War I. Independence came in 1932. Iraq's pro-Western stance ended in 1958 with the overthrow of the monarchy. Its subsequent turbulent history has witnessed the dictatorship of SADDAM Husayn, civil war with the Kurds, a bloody conflict with neighboring Iran, and, in 1990, an invasion of Kuwait, swiftly turned back by a Western coalition led by the US. Noncooperation with UN Security Council resolution obligations and the UN's inspection of Iraq's nuclear, chemical, biological, and long-range missile weapons programs remain major problems."

Hey, found a cool site about Iraq cuisine and diet: [|http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/3592]

OMG!!! that site was awesome...answers most of our questions and there are even a couple of books for us yay!!

History timeline of Iraq [] viewed 22 sept 09