Iraqi officials have raised a modified flag over the Cabinet building in Baghdad in a symbolic break with the country's war-torn past.

Tailor inspects new Iraqi national flag, 05 Feb 2008

The flag keeps the three stripes of red, white and black, but removes the three-star symbol of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. The new flag is valid for one year, until the country's parliament votes on a permanent replacement.

Iraq's Kurdish minority lobbied for the changes, arguing the old flag was a reminder of Saddam's brutality toward the Kurds.

The largely autonomous Kurdish regional government banned the previous Iraqi flag from flying over government buildings. 

The Kurdish regional parliament is expected to decide next week on whether it will fly the new flag.

Iraq's Kurds now use a red, white and green flag, with a golden sun in the center.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.