| − | '''Sierra Leone''' is a nation of west [[Africa]], bounded by [[Guinea]] to its north and east, [[Liberia]] to its south-east, and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to its west. [[Freetown]], now the capital city, was founded in 1787 as a home for former slaves who had fought for the during the [[American War of Independence]], and became a formal British colony in. The interior of what became Sierra Leone became a British protectorate in 1896. Sierra achieved from Britain in 1961. Between 2002 the country and its suffered huge damage in a civil war, finally ended by the intervention of British troops. | + | '''Sierra Leone''' is a nation of west [[Africa]], bounded by [[Guinea]] to its north and east, [[Liberia]] to its south-east, and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to its west. [[Freetown]], now the capital city, was founded in 1787 as a home for former slaves who had fought for the British during the [[American War of Independence]], and became a formal British colony in 1808. The interior of what became Sierra Leone became a British protectorate in 1896. Sierra Leone achieved independence from Britain in 1961. Bertween 1991 and 2002 the country and its people suffered huge damage in a civil war, finally ended by the intervention of British troops. |
| − | Sierra Leone has an area of 27,699 square miles (71,740 sq km) and a population (2007 est.) 6.1 million. | + | Sierra Leone has an area of 27,699 square miles (71,740 sq km) and a population (2007 est.) of 6.1 million. |