Algeria

Population: 31,736,053 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Background: After 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...

Currency: Algerian dinar (DZD, No information)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.