Rashid Ali al-Ghailani

Rashid Ali al-Ghailani ( 1892 – 1965 )
Iraqi statesman. Member of a well-known religious family, he served as Prime Minister on four occasions. In April 1941 he seized power by a military coup that also deposed Abd al-Ilah , regent for the child-king, Faisal II . Believing the new government to be pro-Axis, Britain intervened to expel Rashid Ali in May 1941 and restored the regent.