Basra Governorate

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename


mapsize=200
settlement_type =Governorate
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Iraq
subdivision_type1 = Capital
subdivision_name1 = Basra
latd=30 |latm=22 |latNS=N
longd=47 |longm=22 |longEW=E
population_as_of = 2003
population_total = 1,761,000
density_km2 =
area_total_km2 = 19070
blank_name=Main language(s)
blank_info= Arabic

Basra province, or Al Basrah province, is a province of Iraq, with an area of km2 to mi2|19070. One reported estimate of its 2003 population is 1,761,000 [http://www.citypopulation.de/Iraq.html Iraq - City Population - Cities, Towns & Provinces - Statistics & Map] , accessed August 28, 2008] . Its capital is Basra City, perhaps Iraq's fourth or fifth largest city; other major cities include Corna (Eden), Az Zubayr, Umm Qasr and Abu Al Khaseeb. The province has international borders with Kuwait to the south and Iran to the east.

Provincial Government

*Governor: Muhammad Musbih al-Wa'ili [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/5/28A16359-E481-4548-B6CD-71C6E57C3507.html]
*Deputy Governor: Luay al-Battat [http://rfe.rferl.org/newsline/2007/11/6-SWA/swa-061107.asp]
*Provincial Council Chairman (PCC): Muhammad Sa'doun al-Abadi [http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-5690826_ITM]

History

After World War I

After defeating the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the United Kingdom combined the old Ottoman provinces ("vilayets") of Basra, Baghdad and Mosul to form the state of Iraq, which Britain controlled as a League of Nations mandate.

After the Baath regime

A proposal to join Basra with the neighbouring governorates of Dhi Qar and Maysan to form a southeastern state in an eventual Iraqi federation is currently under discussion. A new law, passed by the Iraqi Parliament in 2006, allows for the merger of two or more provinces as of April 2008.

On the 9th of December 2007, it was announced by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that control of the Basra Governorate would be handed over from Coalition forces to local Iraqi control. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7135666.stm Iraq to be given control of Basra] ". "BBC NEWS", December 9, 2007.] The province was formally transferred a week later, on the 16th of December 2007, making it the 9th such province to be transferred to full Iraqi control. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7146507.stm UK troops return Basra to Iraqis] ". "BBC NEWS", December 16, 2007.]

References