Cradle of civilisation has a history of conflict

IRAQ, a cradle of early civilisation and reputed birthplace of agriculture, beer and the written word, boasts proven oil reservessecond only to those of Saudi Arabia.

A hotbed of Arab nationalism after achieving independence from Britain in 1932, it has a history of conflict with its neighbours and the wider world.

Its 1980-88 war with Shi'ite Muslim neighbour Iran killed hundreds of thousands of people and became the Middle East's longest and bloodiest modern conflict.