Al Habbaniyah: ahl hah-BAHN-eee-ya
A city in Iraq, west of Baghdad, and site of an airbase and three weapons-production facilities.
Al Qaeda: ahl-KY-duh
International terrorist network that claimed responsibility for the September 11 attacks; "Al Qaeda means "the base"
Ar Ramadi: ahr rah-MAH-dee
A provincial capital in central Iraq, on the Euphrates River. The name also appears as Ramadie or Rumadiya.
Yasir Arafat: YASS-sir AH-rah-fat
President of Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which has controlled the Palestinian territories in Gaza and on the West Bank since January 1996. Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since 1968.
As-Sulaymaniyah (or Sylaymaniyah): ahs-SOO-lay-mahn-ya
A city in northern Iraq; capitol of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)-controlled Iraqi Kurdistan. Northern Iraq has been independent of Saddam (and guarded by U.S. and British patrols) since the Kurdish uprising that followed the Gulf war in 1991.
Azerbaijan: ah-zur-by-JON
A nation of Turkic Muslims, has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Kofi Annan: KOH-fee AN-nan
Secretary-General of the United Nations since 1997
Belarus: bel-uh-ROOS or bye-luh-ROOS
One of the former Soviet republics, it attained its independence in 1991. It maintains closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics.
Chechnya: CHECH-nee-ah
A Russian province in the northern Caucasus, it broke away from Russia in 1991, but its declaration went unrecognized; it has been the site of war with Russia, including guerilla tactics by the Chechens.
Dagestan: dag-uh-STAN ("a" as in "ash")
A Russian province northeast of the Caucasus mountain range, and east of Chechnya.
Estonia: eh-STONE-ee-uh
One of the former Soviet republics, it attained its independence in 1991. The last Russian troops left in 1994.
Hamas: hah-MAHS
Militant Islamic resistance movement; began after the 1987 intifada. Its goals: the withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian territories, and the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state. Its tactics include suicide bombings.
Hebron: HEH-bruhn
A city in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. It has a Jewish community of about 750 people, and has been the site of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.
Hezbollah: hez-boh-LAH
Militant Islamic resistance movement; it does not recognize Israel's right to exist.
Saddam Hussein: sah-DAHM hoo-SANE:
Leader of Iraq since 1979
Iran: ih RAHN
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling shah was forced into exile.
Iraq: ih RAK
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932. Currently ruled by Saddam Hussein, it was defeated by the UN coalition forces in the Gulf War in 1991. Currently the subject of United Nations weapons inspections.
Islam: is-LAHM or IS-lahm
Religion based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad in the 7th century.
Jenin: juh-NEEN
A city in the occupied Palestinian territories, site of armed conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.
Kabul: KAH-bul
Capital of Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai: hah-MEHD kahr-Z-EYE
Afghanistan's interim prime minister.
Kazakhstan: ka-zak-STAN ("a" as in "ash")
Former Soviet republic; attained independence in 1991; site of tension between native Kazakhs and Russian immigrants.
Kim Jong-Il: KIHM JAWNG IHL
Leader of North Korea
Kyrgyzstan: kir-gi-STAN ("gi" as in "give")
Former Soviet republic; attained independence in 1991
Osama bin Laden: o-SAH-mah bihn LAH-dehn
Leader of Al Qaeda
Latvia: LAT-vee-uh ("lat" rhymes with "cat")
Former Soviet republic; attained independence in 1991
Lithuania: li-thuh-WAY-nee-uh
Former Soviet republic; attained independence in 1991
Malaysia: mah-LAY-zha
Southeast Asian nation, Malaysia was formed in 1963 through a merging of the former British colonies of Malaya and Singapore. Singapore seceded in 1965.
Moldova: mahl-DO-vuh
Former Soviet republic; attained independence in 1991
Mosul: MOH-sul
Iraq's third-largest city, located 400 kilometers north of Baghdad; site of Saddam Hussein's northernmost presidential site
(Zacarias) Moussaoui: moo-SOW-ee
Believed to be the 20th 9-11 highjacker
Pervez Musharraf: pur-VEHZ MOO-shuh ruhv
President of Pakistan
Mullah Mohammed Omar: moo-LAH mow-hah-MEHD O-MAH-R
Head of Afghanistan's Taliban government; currently in hiding
Shimon Peres: shee-MOHN PEHR-ehs
Former Israeli Prime Minister (1984-1986), acting Prime Minister (1995-1996); co-winner of Nobel Peace Prize in 1994
Colin (Powell): KOH-lin
United States Secretary of State
Vladimir Putin: vo-lo-DEE-meer POO-tin
President of the Russian Federation
Qatar: KAH-ter or kah-TER
Middle Eastern country with significant oil and natural gas revenues.
Quran: ku RAHN
The holy book of Islam
Condoleezza (Rice): Kahn-dah-LEE-zuh
National Security Adviser
Ariel Sharon: ah-ree-EL shah-ROHN
Prime Minister of Israel
Sunni: SOO-nee
The largest segment of Islam
Shiite: SHEE-ite
The second-largest branch of Islam; approximately 10-15 percent of Muslims
Tajikistan: tah-jih-kih-STAN
Former Soviet Republic; attained independence in 1991; located north of Afghanistan
Turkmenistan: turk-men-ih-STAN
Former Soviet Republic; attained independence in 1991; borders Iran and Afghanistan
Ukraine: yoo-KRANE
Former Soviet Republic; attained independence in 1991; located west of Russia
Uzbekistan: uz-beh-kih-STAN
Former Soviet Republic; attained independence in 1991; it borders Afghanistan
Yemen: YEM-un
Middle-Eastern country and Osama bin Laden's ancestral homeland; borders Saudi Arabia
Victor Yuschenko: VEEK-tor YOOSH-chehn-kaw
Premier Minister of Ukraine
