Iraq's Heads of State (1921-Present)
      King Feisal I was born in 1885 in Ta'if (in today's western Saudi Arabia). He was a leader of the British backed Arab rebellion initiated by his father, Sherrif Hussien of Mecca against the Ottoman Empire dring the First World War. After assuming power for a short period in neighbouring Syria, the young Sherrif Feisal was established as the King of the newely created Iraqi Kingdom in 1921.He ruled till his death in 1933.

      The eldest son of Feisal, Ghazi was born in Hijaz in 1912. His reign was only to last for some five and a half years, ended as it was by his mysterous death in April of 1939.

      The only son of King Ghazi, King Feisal II was about four when his father died. For that reason the regency was assumed by his uncle 'Abdul Ilah (from April 1939 - May 1953). The young King and most of his family including the regent were killed in the revolutiob that occured on morning of 14th July 1958.

      General 'Abdul Karim Qaism was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, which was proclaimed on the 14th of July 1958. He was also killed, this time in a coup on the 8th of February 1963.

      The 1963 change of power brought in at the helm an old associate of the ex-Prime Minister, and the prime mover behind the military movements that affected the 1958 revolution, 'Abd Al-Sallam 'Arif. The reign of President 'Arif was to end on 15th of April 1966 in helicopter accident.

      'Abd Al-Rahman 'Arif, succeded his brother as President. He was also a military man and took part in both 1958 and 1963 seizures of power. He was ousted on 17th July 1968.

      The Ba'athist officer, Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr (1916-1982), was proclaimed president on that fatefull mid-July day. By the 30th of July other possible contenders to power were either purged or in some way weakened. Al-Bakr was to carry on as President till 17th of July 1979, where he stepped down, citing "bad health" as an excuse, in favour of his Vice President Saddam Hussien. Al-Bakr died in 1982.

      Saddam Hussien was born in the village of Al-'Ouja in 1937. His eventual assumption of the Presidency in 1979, followed an ever increasing role as Vice President. He has plunged Iraq into its darkest times with two disastorous foreign wars (against Iran 1980-88 and the invasion of Kuwait and subsequent Second Gulf War 1990-91), as well as what is thought to be the most oppressive internal security apparatus in the world.