Agencies see good year for Iraq A different kind of helmet? An Iraqi worker aboard an oil-tanker Iraq faces a period of economic growth and political progress, according to assessments by the International Monetary Fund and the UN. The IMF sees 7% growth in 2008 and a similar rise next year, and says oil revenues from buoyant exports should be up by 200, 000 barrels a day. The UN envoy to Iraq welcomed dialogue between the Sunni and Shia communities and praised the government's work. But analysts warn much depends on rapid progress in the next six to 12 months.
(n)a dispute over control of the waterway between Iraq and Iran broke out into open fighting in 1980 and continued until 1988, when they accepted a UN cease-fire resolution, Syn.Gulf War
(n)a republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the area now known as Iraq, Syn.Republic of Iraq, Al-Iraq, Irak
(n)a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to Saddam Hussein's government of Iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of Sunni and Shiite Arabs and Kurds who hope to build a new government, Syn.INC