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| Baghdad Governorate Arabic: محافظة بغداد |
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| Country | Iraq |
| Capital | Baghdad |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4,071 km² (1,571.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2003) | |
| - Total | 6,024,000 |
| Time zone | Iraqi Standard Time (UTC+3) |
| Main languages | Arabic. |
Baghdad Governorate (Arabic: محافظة بغداد Muḥāfaẓät Baġdād) in the nation of Iraq and contains the conurbation of Baghdad. It includes the urban area of the city, as well as the surrounding metropolitan area, with includes Al-Mada'in, Taji and Al Mahmudiyah district (in the so-called "triangle of death"). The governorate has a total area of 4,071 square kilometers (1,571.8 sq mi), the smallest of the 18 governorates of Iraq but the most populous.
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Provincial Government
- Governor: Hussein al-Tahan [1]
- Provincial Council Chairman (PCC): Muin Hamid Abd al-Majid al-Kadhimi [2]
Governorate Description
Baghdad governorate is considered one of the more developed parts of Iraq, with a better infrastructure than much of Iraq, though heavily damaged from the invasion in 2003 and continuing violence today. Baghdad, even though considered the most heavily guarded area in Iraq, is still the scene of countless daily ambushes and attacks from Iraqi rebels directed towards Coalition troops. It also has one of the highest rates for terrorism in the world with bombs, suicide attackers, and hit squads operating in the city.
Baghdad has at least 12 bridges to join the east and west of the city separated by the river Tigris. The Sadr City district of the capital is the most densely populated area in Iraq home to around 900 thousand Shi'ite Muslims. In 1950 90% of the Baghdad's population was Sunnis Muslims, now 40% of Baghdad's population is Shi'ite Muslim with most of the rest Sunni. A sizeable Christian community also has a presence in Baghdad.
The capital is now in the middle of a power struggle with insurgents forcing out Shi'ite residents in some areas of western Baghdad where the Sunni sect is in the majority. After the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad, Shi'ite militias retaliated and forced out some Sunnis from predominantly Shi'ite areas.
Governorate Administration
Baghdad is the only governorate in Iraq that is also an Iraqi city. Representatives to the Baghdad Provincial/Governorate Council were elected by their peers from the lower councils of the administrative districts in Baghdad in numbers proportional to the population of the various districts that were represented.
Sister City
The Baghdad Governorate has a sister relationship with the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area, based in Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
See also
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References
