Lebanon

National name: Al- Joumhouriya al-Lubnaniya

Government
Republic.

Geography
Lebanon lies at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel and west of Syria. The Lebanon Mountains, which parallel the coast on the west, cover most of the country, while on the eastern border is the Anti- Lebanon range.

Historical Background
Following the capture of Syria from the Ottoman Empire by Anglo-French forces in 1918, France received a mandate over this territory and separated out a region of Lebanon in 1920. France granted this area independence in 1943. A 15-year civil war (1976- 1991) devastated the country. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections, most militias have been disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, a radical Shi'a organization, retains its weapons. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. Syria withdrew its military forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free of foreign interference, handing a two-thirds majority to the bloc led by Saad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. In January 2008, the Winograd Commission released its final report on Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Name

Republic of Lebanon

Capital

Beirut

Government

Confessionalist, parliamentary republic[1] - President     Michel Suleiman - Prime Minister Saad Hariri (caretaker) Najib Mikati (designate) - Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri

Area

total 10,452 km2 (166th) 4,036 sq mi          

Population

2009 estimate 4,224,000[4] (124th)     

GDP (PPP)

2010 estimate - Total $58.576 billion[5] 

GDP (nominal)

estimate - Total $37.040 billion[5]

Currency

Lebanese pound (LBP)

Time zone

EET (UTC+2) -  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)