www.bbc.co.uk An Iraqi singer has paid tribute to her country after winning a popular pan-Arab TV talent show.

Shada Hassoun, 25, thanked Iraqis and wrapped the country's flag around her body when the result of Star Academy Middle East was announced.

Although she lives in Morocco, Hassoun's progress has been avidly followed in Iraq and her victory was greeted by gunfire in Baghdad.

She beat contestants from Lebanon, Tunisia and Egypt.

In an emotional interview with Iraq's al-Sharqiya television station shortly after her win, Hassoun said: "I thank Baghdad and I thank Iraq."

Hassoun, the daughter of a Moroccan mother and an Iraqi father, has been backed by both Sunni and Shia communities and gave many Iraqis an opportunity to forget their own troubles.

The announcement from Lebanon, where the final was staged, came just after midnight in Iraq.

In Baghdad, a power cut meant many who had been following Hassoun's fortunes over the past four months were unable to see the moment of victory.

But those with generators spread the news which was greeted with cheering and celebratory gunfire.

Star Academy Middle East is the Arab version of the French show Star Academy produced by Dutch company Endemol, which also makes Big Brother in the UK.

Iraq's al-Sharqiyah satellite channel devoted hours of live coverage to Friday's broadcast on a Lebanese channel, urging Iraqis to vote for Hassoun and broadcast a phone-in programme for her supporters.

Some fans called to say they had voted for Hassoun so many times they had used up the credit on their prepaid phone cards.

During commercial breaks, Sharqiyah broadcast a government advertisement that seeks to discourage sectarian violence.

It shows an elderly woman in a black chador in tears and pleading with masked gunmen not to evict her and her family from their home.

Even in the deeply religious Shia city of Najaf people were delighted.

An Islamist politician, Sabah Ahmed, said: "We welcome this woman because she has held the name of Iraq aloft. We needed a voice to unify us."

"Being an Islamist, I have some reservations about singing. But seven million votes for this woman from walks of society. With this percentage she outclassed politicians in Iraq. Therefore the victory unites Iraqis," he said.