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Executive
branch:
chief
of state:
President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Fuad SINIORA (since 30
June 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Elias MURR (since April 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in
consultation with the president and members of the National
Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for
a six-year term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next
election date NA); note - on 3 September 2004 the National
Assembly voted 96 to 29 to extend Emile LAHUD's six-year term by
three years; the prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president in consultation with the National
Assembly; by agreement, the president is a Maronite Christian,
the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the
legislature is a Shia Muslim
election results: for 15 October 1998 election: Emile
LAHUD elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 votes in
favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions
Capital:
Beirut
Population:
3,826,018 (July 2005 est.)
Languages:
Arabic
(official), French, English, Armenian
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Land boundaries:
total:
454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Background:
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year
civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national
reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say
in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian
divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the
Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of
the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority
over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, a radical Shia
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. Damascus justified its continued
military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the
failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal
from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some
Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as
well. The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a
resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end
its interference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened
Lebanese groups opposed to Syria's presence in Lebanon. Syria
finally withdrew the remainder of its forces from Lebanon in
April of 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first
legislative elections since the end of the civil war that were
free of the Syrian presence.
Administrative divisions:
6
governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa,
Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
International
organization participation:
ABEDA,
ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
GDP
(purchasing power parity):
$19.49 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing
power parity - $5,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by
sector:
agriculture:
12%
industry: 21%
services: 67% (2000)
Agriculture
- products:
citrus,
grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco;
sheep, goats
Industries:
banking,
tourism, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and
chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining,
metal fabricating
By
the
Courtesy of World
Fact Book - Lebanon and
Wikipedia
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