Country profile: Azerbaijan

Potted history of the country: Fought over by Mongols, Ottomans and Persians, by the 18th century Azerbaijan was a collection of Muslim khanates. A century later Russia absorbed the country into its empire and by 1900 Azerbaijan was supplying half of the world's oil. It gained independence in 1991. War with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region soon followed.

1. At a glance
2. Location: Eastern South Caucasus, on the Caspian Sea
3. Neighbours: Armenia, Georgia
4. Size: 33,400 square miles
5. Population: 8,238,672 (91st)
6. Density: 246.7 people per square mile
7. Capital city: Baku (population 1,893,300)
8. Head of state: President Ìlham Heydar oglu Aliyev
Head of government: Prime minister Artur Tahir oglu Rasizade
9. Currency: Manat
10. Time zone: Azerbaijan Standard Time (+4 hours)
11. International dialling code: +994
12. Website: president.az
13. Data correct on Saturday 18 April 2009

Political pressure points: President Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father in a dubious election in 2003, has crushed most dissent. Opposition members are frequently detained. Armenia remains a sworn enemy 15 years after the war, and the risk of renewed conflict is a constant threat.

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