Iraq has announced a competition to design a new flag for the country, and is calling on normal Iraqis, artists and designers inside and outside Iraq to take part.

Lawmaker Mufeed al-Jazairi announced the competition yesterday. He says interested people have until the end of September to submit their designs.

Al-Jazairi says an arbitration committee will select three designs to be presented to the parliament, which will vote on a new flag by the end of this year.