Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Beirut
Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beqaa, Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
ـ[بَحْرُ الرَّمَل]ــــــــ[02 - 11 - 2010, 01:54 م]ـ
LIBYA
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/ly-lgflag.gif (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/flagtemplate_ly.html)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/newmaps/ly-map.gif (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/maptemplate_ly.html)
Background
Greeks and Phoenicians settled the area in the 7th
century BC. It was conquered by Rome in the 1st century
BC and by Arabs in the 7th century AD. In the 16th
century the Ottoman Turks combined Libya’s three regions
under one regency in Tripoli. In 1911 Italy
claimed control of Libya, and by the outbreak of World
War II, 150,000 Italians lived there. It became an independent
state in 1951. The discovery of oil in
1959 brought wealth to Libya. A decade later a group
of army officers led by Muammar al-Qaddafi deposed
the king and made the country an Islamic republic.
Under Qaddafi’s rule
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Population:
6,324,357
country comparison to the world: 103
Ethnic groups:
Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Government type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils
Capital:
name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
Administrative divisions:
25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
ـ[بَحْرُ الرَّمَل]ــــــــ[02 - 11 - 2010, 01:57 م]ـ
MAURITANIA
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/mr-lgflag.gif (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/flagtemplate_mr.html)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/newmaps/mr-map.gif (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/maptemplate_mr.html)
Background
Inhabited in ancient times by Sanhadja Berbers, in
the 11th and 12th centuries Mauritania was the center
of the Berber Almoravid movement, which imposed
Islam. Arab tribes arrived in the 15th century
and formed powerful confederations; the Portuguese
also arrived then. France gained control of the coast
in 1817 and in 1903 made the territory a protectorate.
In 1904 it was added to French West Africa,
and later it became a colony. In 1960 Mauritania
achieved independence. Its first president was
ousted in a 1978 military coup. After a series of military
rulers, in 1991 a new constitution was adopted,
and multiparty elections were held in 1992. The
country faced continued economic hardship and political
unrest, including coups, in the late 20th and
early 21st centuries.
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
Climate:
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Population:
3,129,486 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Ethnic groups:
mixed Moor/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Government type:
Republic
Capital:
name: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions:
12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
¥