1. An Overview of Middle Eastern Countries Chapters 10, 11, and 12

2. Middle Eastern Conflict For many years there has been conflict in the Middle East. The United Nations helps try to solve the conflicts. United Nations – a body of world leaders who meet to discuss and solve world problems.

3. Iraq Capital: Baghdad Population: 24,200,000 Government: Transitional Democracy Language: Arabic Major Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Group: Arab

4. Iraq and the United Nations 1979 – 2003 Sadaam Hussein ruled Iraq as a military dictator. 1990’s – Iraq invaded Kuwait because of oil. This led to the Persian Gulf War in 1991. United Nations troops led by the U.S. pushed Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. 2003 – Hussein refused to allow United Nations inspectors in to investigate their nuclear program. U.S. and British forces invaded Iraq to help the U.N. look for the weapons. Sadaam was overthrown in less than a month. In December 2003, he was captured. Dec 2006 – Sadaam was executed.

5. Iran Capital: Tehran Population: 66,600,000 Government: Islamic Republic Language: Persian Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Persian

6. Iran and the United Nations Iran is an Islamic Republic. It is a government run by Muslim Religious Leaders. All the laws are based on Quran. The country’s leader is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He has talked openly about his dislike of America and Israel. Currently, Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. The United States has warned Iran that if they do not stop pursuing a weapons program, the United States will take action. The United Nations has warned Iran to submit to its rules about nuclear weapons.

7. Afghanistan Capital: Kabul Population: 28,700,000 Government: Republic Language: Pashto Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Pashtun

8. Afghanistan In 1989 a civil war caused the country to collapse and in the 1990’s the Taliban came to power. It was an oppressive Islamic terrorist regime that did not respect human rights. It was linked to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001. The U.S. led coalition (U.N.) forces into Afghanistan. The Taliban fell in 2002. Currently Afghanistan has a democratic government.

9. Egypt Capital: Cairo Population: 72,100,000 Government: Republic Language: Arabic Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Egyptian

10. Jordan Capital: Amman Population: 5,500,000 Government: Constitutional Monarchy Language: Arabic Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Arab

11. Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh Population: 24,100,000 Government: Traditional Monarchy Language: Arabic Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Arab

12. Lebanon Capital: Beirut Population: 4,200,000 Government: Republic Language: Arabic Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Arab

13. Israel Capital: Jerusalem Population: 6,700,000 Government: Republic Language: Hebrew Religion: Judaism Major Ethnic Groups: Jewish

14. Palestine Population: 3,800,000 Government: Republic Language: Arabic Religions: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Palestinians

15. Syria Capital: Damascus Population: 17,500,000 Government: Republic Language: Arabic Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Arab

16. Turkey Capital: Ankara Population: 71,200,000 Government: Republic Language: Turkish Religion: Islam Major Ethnic Groups: Turkish

17. Egypt

18. Libya

19. North African Countries CountryGovernmentLanguageReligion AlgeriaRepublicArabicIslam LibyaMilitary Dictatorship ArabicIslam MoroccoConstitutional Monarchy ArabicIslam TunisiaRepublicArabicIslam