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El Salvador (1867-)
Stamp-issuing status: active; Population: 5,661,827 (1993 estimate). A
republic in Central America, bordering on the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador was
conquered by the Spanish in the 1520s and was ruled as part of the
captaincy-general of Guatemala until 1821. It came under Mexican rule briefly,
then formed part of the Central American Confederation until 1839. Since
independence, El Salvador's history has been marked by political instability.
Coups, countercoups, inequitable land ownership and a long-running civil war
between Marxist guerrillas and right-wing elements of the military marked the
country's history until recent years. In 1992 the civil war was ended, and an
economic liberalization program was implemented in 1993.
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