Part 47

Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,015,357; fit for military service 547,566; reach military age (18) annually 49,348 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Latvia, Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia Map references: Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 64,100 sq km land area: 64,100 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km Coastline: 531 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944 Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21% Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

@Latvia, People

Population: 2,749,211 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.5% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 13.84 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 12.61 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.44 years male: 64.37 years female: 74.75 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2% Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

@Latvia, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: LG Type: republic Capital: Riga Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918) Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Saeima elected President ULMANIS in the third round of balloting on 7 July 1993 head of government: Prime Minister Valdis BIRKAVS (since 20 July 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the Supreme Council Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Saeima): elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) LC 36, LNNK 15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP 5 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Latvian Way Union (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), Alvars BERKIS; Latvian National Independence Movement (LNNK), Andrejs KRASTINS, Aristids LAMBERGS, cochairmen; Concord for Latvia, Janis JURKANS; Equal Rights, Sergejs DIMANIS; Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), Peteris CIMDINS, Andris SAULITIS, Janis RUSKO; Fatherland and Freedom (TUB), Maris GRINBLATS, Roberts MILBERGS, Oigerts DZENTIS; Democratic Center (DCP), Ints CALITIS; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis AUGSTKALNS Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 726-8213 and 8214 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ints M, SILINS embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 46-9-882-0046 FAX: 46-9-882-0047 Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

@Latvia, Economy

Overview: Latvia is rapidly becoming a dynamic market economy, rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states in the speed of its transformation. The transition has been painful with GDP falling over 45% in 1992-93, according to official statistics, and industrial production experiencing even steeper declines. Nevertheless, the government's tough monetary policies and reform program, which foster the development of the private sector and market mechanisms, have kept inflation low, created a dynamic private sector - much of which is not captured in official statistics - and expanded trade ties with the West. Much of agriculture is already privatized and the government plans to step up the pace of privatization of state enterprises. The economy is now poised for recovery and will benefit from the country's strategic location on the Baltic Sea, its well-educated population, and its diverse - albeit largely obsolete - industrial structure. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $13.2 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Latvian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990) National product real growth rate: -5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $4,810 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% per month (1993 average) Unemployment rate: 5.6% (December 1993) Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $429 million from non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: oil products, timber, ferrous metals, dairy products, furniture, textiles partners: Russia, other CIS countries, Western Europe Imports: $NA commodities: fuels, cars, ferrous metals, chemicals partners: Russia, other CIS countries, Western Europe External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate -38% (1992 est.) Electricity: capacity: 2,140,000 kW production: 5.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,125 kWh (1992) Industries: employs 41% of labor force; highly diversified; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles Agriculture: employs 16% of labor force; principally dairy farming and livestock feeding; products - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; fishing and fish packing Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993 Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.5917 (January 1994), 1.32 (March 1993) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Latvia, Communications

Railroads: 2,400 km (1,524-mm gauge); 270 km electrified Highways: total: 59,500 km paved and graveled: 33,000 km unpaved: earth 26,500 km (1990) Inland waterways: 300 km perennially navigable Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992) Ports: coastal - Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja; inland - Daugavpils Merchant marine: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 850,840 GRT/1,107,403 DWT, cargo 15, container 2, oil tanker 41, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8 Airports: total: 50 usable: 15 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 7 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 7 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip Telecommunications: Latvia is better provided with telephone service than most of the other former Soviet republics; subscriber circuits 660,000; subscriber density 240 per 1,000 persons (1993); an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population; international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and through the new Ericsson AXE local/transit digital telephone exchange in Riga and through the Finnish cellular net; electronic mail capability by Sprint data network; broadcasting services NA

@Latvia, Defense Forces

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 652,444; fit for military service 514,055; reach military age (18) annually 18,803 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3%-5% of GDP; note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

@Lebanon

Header Note: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war in October 1990. 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. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed three cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzine. As of December 1993, Syria maintained about 30,000-35,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.

@Lebanon, Geography

Location: Middle East, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria Map references: Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 10,400 sq km land area: 10,230 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: total 454 km, Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km Coastline: 225 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976 Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 8% other: 61% Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air and water pollution natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

@Lebanon, People

Population: 3,620,395 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.98% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 27.89 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.55 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 39.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.35 years male: 66.92 years female: 71.9 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.39 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1% Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL% Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% Labor force: 650,000 by occupation: industry, commerce, and services 79%, agriculture 11%, government 10% (1985)

@Lebanon, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Lebanon conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: none Digraph: LE Type: republic Capital: Beirut Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa, 'Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943) Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education Executive branch: chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989); note - by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 22 October 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by the president in consultation with the members of the National Assembly Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assemblee Nationale) Lebanon's first legislative election in 20 years was held in the summer of 1992; the National Assembly is composed of 128 deputies, one-half Christian and one-half Muslim; its mandate expires in 1996 Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases) Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Riad TABBARAH chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-6300 FAX: (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark HAMBLEY mailing embassy: Antelias, Beirut address: P. O. Box 70-840, PSC 815, Box 2, Beirut; FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: [961] 417774 or 415802 through 415803, 402200, 403300 FAX: [961] (1) 407-112 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

@Lebanon, Economy

Overview: Since 1975 civil war has seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Following October 1990, however, a tentative peace has enabled the central government to begin restoring control in Beirut, collect taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. The battered economy has also been propped up by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking transactions, manufactured and farm exports, the narcotics trade, and international emergency aid are the main sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991, industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial gains. The further rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In October 1992, Rafiq HARIRI was appointed Prime Minister. HARIRI, a wealthy entrepreneur, has announced ambitious plans for Lebanon's reconstruction which involve a substantial influx of foreign aid and investment. Progress on restoring basic services is limited. Since Prime Minister HARIRI's appointment, the most significant improvement lies in the stabilization of the Lebanese pound, which had gained over 30% in value by yearend 1993. The year 1993 was marked by efforts of the new administration to encourage domestic and foreign investment and to obtain additional international assistance. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.1 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 4.2% (1992) National product per capita: $1,720 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 35% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $990 million expenditures: $1.98 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products partners: Saudi Arabia 21%, Switzerland 9.5%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 12%, US 5% Imports: $4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: Consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products partners: Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3% External debt: $700 million (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 25% (1993 est.) Electricity: capacity: 1,300,000 kW production: 3.413 billion kWh consumption per capita: 990 kWh (1992) Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating Agriculture: accounts for about one-third of GDP; principal products - citrus fruits, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish), sheep, goats; not self-sufficient in grain Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; increasingly a key locus of cocaine processing and trafficking Economic aid: aid for Lebanon's reconstruction programs currently totals $1.3 billion since October 1992, including a $175 million loan from the World Bank Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (#L) = 100 piasters Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (#L) per US$1 - 1,713.00 (December 1993), 2,200.00 (1992), 928.23 (1991), 695.09 (1990), 496.69 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Lebanon, Communications

Railroads: system in disrepair, considered inoperable Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: gravel 450 km; improved earth 650 km Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation) Ports: Beirut, Tripoli, Ra'Sil'ata, Juniyah, Sidon, Az Zahrani, Tyre, Jubayl, Shikka Jadidah Merchant marine: 63 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 268,268 GRT/399,054 DWT, bulk 4, cargo 39, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, container 2, livestock carrier 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 2, combination ore/oil 1 Airports: total: 9 usable: 7 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding still underway; 325,000 telephones (95 telephones per 1,000 persons); domestic traffic carried primarily by microwave radio relay and a small amount of cable; international traffic by satellite - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station (erratic operations), coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan, 3 submarine coaxial cables; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 13 TV (numerous AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by various factions)

@Lebanon, Defense Forces

Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; including Army, Navy, and Air Force) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 827,267; fit for military service 514,291 Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $271 million, 8.2% of GDP (1992 budget)

@Lesotho, Geography

Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 30,350 sq km land area: 30,350 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: total 909 km, South Africa 909 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers Terrain: mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 66% forest and woodland: 0% other: 24% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification natural hazards: subject to periods of drought international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping Note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa Population: 1,944,493 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.48% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.19 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 69.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.14 years male: 60.32 years female: 64.01 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800 Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1966) total population: 59% male: 44% female: 68% Labor force: 689,000 economically active by occupation: 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60% of active male labor force works in South Africa

@Lesotho, Government

Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland Digraph: LT Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Maseru Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966) Constitution: 2 April 1993 Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993 ) cabinet: Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consisting of the Assembly or lower house whose members are chosen by popular election and the Senate or upper house whose members consist of the 22 principal chiefs and 10 other members appointed by the ruling party; election held in March 1993 (first since 1971); all 65 seats in the Assembly were won by the BCP Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP), Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basutholand Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob M. KENA Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Teboho KITLELI chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 797-5533 through 5536 FAX: (202) 234-6815 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Karl HOFMANN embassy: address NA, Maseru mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 312-666 FAX: [266] 310-116 Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

@Lesotho, Economy