<div><p>Iraq's cabinet has approved a draft of the war-torn country's first laws to restrict smoking and to halt cigarette advertising, the government said on Thursday.</p><p>The draft aims to bring to an end a laissez-faire attitude to cigarette smoking that endured through the totalitarian dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and years of fighting since the 2003 US-led invasion that overthrew him.</p><p>"The purpose behind approving the draft law to fight smoking is to protect the people from the social, health, environmental and economic risks of smoking," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.</p><p>"The draft law will ban smoking in public areas. Smoking will be prevented inside ministry buildings, educational institutions, health facilities, airports and companies in all provinces," Dabbagh said.</p><p>"Smoking will also be banned in theatres, clubs, meeting rooms, offices, and all private and public transport."</p><p>The draft legislation also bans smoking for under-18s and cigarette advertising in "all media", with fines of five million Iraqi dinars (4,300 dollars) and suspensions for media who break the law, Dabbagh said.</p><p>Smoking is widespread in Iraq, with a packet of cigarettes costing only around 500 dinars and cafes providing "sheesha", as water pipes with flavoured tobacco are known, popular in cities and towns.</p><p>More than 41 percent of Iraqi men and nearly seven percent of women are smokers, according to the World Health Organisation.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=56260669&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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