Liberia

Some people are born unlucky. Amongst their number would be the people taken from Africa to the New World as slaves - and then returned to their freedom in the fetid swamp that is Liberia.

Liberia was established by well-meaning Americans so freed slaves could resettle in Africa, and the capital named after President James Monroe.

Since 1980, Liberia has experienced a succession of coups and civil wars. Once rubber, timber and diamonds were its biggest exports - now it's refugees. The unemployment rate of 85 per cent is the second highest in the world.

On Liberian Independence Day, 26 July, please stand for the Liberian national anthem.