Capital: Baghdad.Major Cities (in order of population size): Baghdad, Mosul (Al Mawsil), Basra (Al Basrah),Arbil (Irbil), Kirkuk, and Sulaymaniyah (As Sulaymaniyah).Independence: October 3, 1932, from the British administration established under a 1920League of Nations mandate.Public Holidays: New Year's Day (January 1) and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein (April 9)are celebrated on fixed dates, although the latter has lacked public support since its declarationby the interim government in 2003. The following Muslim religious holidays occur on variabledates according to the Islamic lunar calendar, which is 11 days shorter than the Gregoriancalendar: Eid al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), Islamic New Year, Ashoura (the Shia observanceof the martyrdom of Hussein), Mouloud (the birth of Muhammad), Leilat al Meiraj (theascension of Muhammad), and Eid al Fitr (the end of Ramadan).