since
December 1994)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime
minister's recommendation

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the governor general

Bahrain:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6
March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the
monarch, born 21 October 1969)

head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
(since NA 1971)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch

Bangladesh:
chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9
October 1996); note - the president's duties are normally
ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution
("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes
significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker
government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise
the elections

head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 13 July
1996)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by
the president

elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October
2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that
wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the
president

election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without
opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%

Barbados:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn
HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)

head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6
September 1994)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general

Belarus:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20
July 1994)

head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir YERMOSHIN (since 18
February 2000); First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey KOBYAKOV (s