Traditional Iraqi drinks include coffee, akar and mint tea. Arabic coffee is strong and bitter, served before or after a meal and often accompanied by cream and sugar. Arak is a national alcoholic drink made from aniseed.
There are hopes that Iraq may have started on the path to stability. After all, civilisation as we know it once emerged from this region.
The main subdivision in Iraq is the 18 muhafazah, also known as governorates or provinces. Before 1976 they were called liwas, or banner).