a century of rule by France, Algeria became
independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the
fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991
balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and
postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in
a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state
apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring
pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS's armed
wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded itself in January 2000
and many armed militants surrendered under an amnesty program
designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, residual
fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment
and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy.

American Samoa:
Settled as early as 1000 B. C., Samoa was
"discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century.
International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were
settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the
Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller
group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago -
the following year.

Andorra:
Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra has
achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its
tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted
to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Angola:
Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence
from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government
and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the
government and armed forces. A national unity government was
installed in April of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late
1998, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5
million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter
century.

Anguilla:
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650,
Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th
century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants -
was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two
years after a revolt, Anguilla was