0 (January 1999),
5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995),
3.55080 (1994); note--the Basotho loti is at par with the South
African rand

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios: 66,000

Television broadcast stations: NA

Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note--owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 4,955 km
paved: 887 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 29 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and
Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 504,442 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 271,925 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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@Liberia
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Introduction

Background: The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of
civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000
factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring
Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG).
Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19
July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National
Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil
strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted
formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September
1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader
Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertaint