An independent Iraqi vendor sells Asiacell simcards for cell phones in front of the Asiacell company headquarters in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, May 9, 2012. Mobile phone operator Asiacell has closed its offices in the Iraqi city of Mosul, an al Qaeda stronghold, after attacks and threats by militants, security officials and employees said this week. Picture taken May 9, 2012. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousuly (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT BUSINESS TELECOMS) - RTR31V6B

Despite being illegal, sidewalk vendors thriving in Iraq

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An independent Iraqi vendor sells Asiacell simcards for cell phones in front of the Asiacell company headquarters in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, May 9, 2012. Mobile phone operator Asiacell has closed its offices in the Iraqi city of Mosul, an al Qaeda stronghold, after attacks and threats by militants, security officials and employees said this week. Picture taken May 9, 2012. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousuly (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT BUSINESS TELECOMS) - RTR31V6B

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