or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi
al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad
al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad
al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz
al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI];
Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic
Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; National Reconciliation
and Liberation Party [Mishan al-JABBURI]; Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR]
(not an organized political party, but it fields independent
candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmed
al-RISHAWI]
note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front,
Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were
only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the
various Iraqi political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600
FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section
FAX: NA

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic
script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Syria,
which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white
band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered
in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors;
Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise
temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Economy
Iraq

Economy - overview:

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has
traditionally provided abo