All but essential travel is advised to the northern Beka’a Valley and areas of South Lebanon close to the Israeli border. There continues to be a high risk of terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East, including in Lebanon. All visitors should be particularly vigilant in public places - such as tourist sites - and avoid military sites and Palestinian refugee camps. Travellers should visit one of the following government websites for the latest risk assessment:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Website: www.fco.gov.uk/travel
Tel: +44 (0)870 606 0290.

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Website: http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/sos/warnings-en.asp

Middle East.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

10,452 sq km (4036 sq miles).

3.8 million (UN, 2005).

363.6 per sq km.

Beirut. Population: 1.17 million (2003).

Lebanon lies to the east of the Mediterranean, sharing borders to the north and east with the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the south with Israel/Palestinian Territory. It is a mountainous country and between the two mountain ranges of Jebel Lubnan (Mount Lebanon), Mount Hermon and the Anti-Lebanon range lies the fertile Bekaa Valley. Approximately half of the country lies at an altitude of over 900m (3000ft). Into this small country is packed such a variety of scenery that there are few places to equal it in beauty and choice. The famous cedar trees grow high in the mountains, while the lower slopes bear grapes, apricots, plums, peaches, figs, olives and barley, often on terraces painstakingly cut out from the mountainsides. On the coastal plain, citrus fruit, bananas and vegetables are cultivated, with radishes and beans grown in tiny patches.

Republic. Head of State: President Emil Jamil Lahoud since 1998. Head of Government: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora since 2005. Recent history: General Emile Lahoud was unanimously elected President by the Lebanese Parliament in October 1998. Rafic Hariri became Prime Minister (for the second time) in August 2000. Under Syrian pressure, Emile Lahoud's term as President, originally set to end in late 2004, was extended for a further three years when Parliament approved a controversial constitutional amendment allowing him to remain in office. Hariri resigned in October 2004 and was replaced by former Prime Minister Omar Karameh. Prior to the extension of President Lahoud’s mandate, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1559 (UNSCR 1559) on 2 September 2004. This resolution called for respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon throughout Lebanon; all remaining foreign forces to withdraw from Lebanon; and the disbanding of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militia. A UN verification team reported on 23 May 2005 that all Syrian troops had withdrawn from Lebanon but it was uncertain whether all intelligence personnel had. Former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was assassinated in a bomb attack on 14 February 2005. In Lebanon, it is widely believed that Syria was involved in this attack. Since the assassination, an anti-Syrian majority has formed in Parliament and the Lebanese opposition parties have worked closely together to demand a full investigation into the attack and the full implementation of the Taif Accord. On 28 February 2005, in the face of public protests, including a general strike, the Lebanese government resigned. Elections in May and June 2005 saw an anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri, son of the assassinated ex-PM Rafik Hariri, win control of Parliament. For the first time in a decade and a half, the Assembly was dominated by members opposed to Syrian influence. All but two members of the new Parliament nominated former Finance Minister and Hariri ally Fouad Siniora as Premier during the May and June 2005 elections. Mr Siniora promised to carry out a reform and development programme initiated by Rafik Hariri. Members of his Cabinet were drawn mainly from groups which opposed Syrian involvement in Lebanon and included - for the first time - a minister from the Hezbollah movement.

The official language is Arabic, followed by French as the second language; English is widely spoken. Armenian is spoken by a small percentage of the population.

Islam and Christianity are the main religions. Islam (predominantly Shi’ite) accounts for approximately 40 per cent of the population’s beliefs. Christian denominations, mainly Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian and Protestant, account for another 40 per cent. Other religions account for the remaining 20 per cent (including a very small Jewish community).

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

Lebanese people are known for their hospitality. Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. It is acceptable to give a small gift, particularly if invited home for a meal. As far as dress is concerned, casual dress is suitable for daytime wear, except in main towns where dress tends to be rather formal. Smarter hotels and restaurants often require guests to dress for dinner. Since Lebanon is almost evenly divided between those adhering to the Muslim faith, and those adhering to the Christian faith, visitors should dress according to the custom of the majority in the individual places being visited. Smoking is common and acceptable unless specified otherwise.