11.   When snow and ice disappear, such scenes are left to the hikers who overspread the high Alpine country.

12.   A cow in northeastern Slovenia tested positive for mad cow disease in the first such case in this tiny alpine country, the agricultural minister said Monday.

13.   A letter suspected to be contaminated with anthrax received by a Chilean doctor was not posted in Switzerland despite being postmarked in the Alpine country, officials said Wednesday.

14.   An anthrax-laced letter received by a Chilean doctor was not posted in Switzerland, despite being postmarked in the Alpine country, officials said Wednesday.

15.   At the time, they represented one of the few exports from the resource-poor Alpine country.

16.   Capel Ferrer said governments in Alpine countries are committed to implementing the recommendations on their own as soon as possible.

17.   Chancellor Franz Vranitzky stepped down after a decade in office during which he led this Alpine country into the European Union.

18.   Chancellor Franz Vranitzky stepped down Saturday after a decade in office during which he led this Alpine country into the European Union.

19.   Chancellor Franz Vranitzky stepped down Saturday after a decade in office in which he led this Alpine country into the European Union.

20.   Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel on Wednesday expressed concern over growing anti-NATO sentiment in the tiny Alpine country whose government is seeking membership in the Western alliance.