Iraq

al-Jumhuriyah al-Iraqiyah

Note: On December 17, 2012, President Jalal Talabani suffered a stroke and travelled to Germany two days later for medical treatment. Reports indicated that Kosrat Rasool ALI had been appointed to succeed as head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Talabani remained in stable condition but was expected to need a minimum of two months to recuperate.

Political Status: Independent state since 1932; declared a republic following military coup that overthrew the monarchy in 1958; provisional constitution issued September 22, 1968, and substantially amended thereafter; de facto one-party regime ousted following invasion by U.S./UK-led forces in March 2003; interim constitution (Transitional Administrative Law) adopted by the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council on May 8, 2004, providing for popular election of a Transitional National Assembly; ...