Liechtenstein

Investigators have traced more than $296 million in German assets to secretive foundations in Liechtenstein in a widening, worldwide tax-evasion investigation in which 163 Germans have admitted guilt, prosecutors said Tuesday. Separately, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service announced that it was initiating enforcement action against 100 American taxpayers in connection with Liechtenstein accounts.

If you can identify the five smallest countries in Continental Europe you get a gold star. If you know where they are on the map, you should be on "Jeopardy." And if you have visited them you don't get anything else; you have already been rewarded. The tiniest, Vatican City, is undeniably the most influential. The next smallest, Monaco, gets very noisy in May. The third most diminutive, San Marino, was the hilltop hide-out of an escaped slave.

Philanthropist: The Column One article in Saturday's Section A about philanthropist Chuck Feeney misspelled Liechtenstein as Lichtenstein.

Liechtenstein: The "Man of the House" column in Thursday's Home section misspelled the name of the nation of Liechtenstein as Lichtenstein.

Liechtenstein: Jerry Crowe's Text Messages from Press Row column in Thursday's Sports section, in an item on USC football, misspelled Liechtenstein as Lichtenstein.

Chris Erskine: The name of the country Liechtenstein was misspelled as Lichtenstein in Chris Erskine's column in Thursday's Sports section.

Voters in the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein overwhelmingly endorsed a law authorizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Antiabortion advocates, led by the Roman Catholic archbishop, had proposed a different text to prohibit abortion under any circumstances. It was rejected by 81% of voters. Liechtenstein is now in agreement with the rest of Western Europe -- except for Ireland -- in legalizing abortion early in pregnancy.

Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein plans to hand over many of his vast powers to his son today at a garden party for his subjects -- all 33,000 of them. Only 17 months ago, the prince won the power to dismiss governments, veto laws and cast the deciding vote in appointing judges. Soon after, he announced that he would hand power to his son Alois, 36. Hans Adam, however, says he will remain head of state, his son will only be his "representative," and the two will talk regularly.

Liechtenstein's ruling prince dropped his threat to leave the nation after voters overwhelming approved a measure to overhaul the constitution to in effect give him more powers than any other European monarch. About 64% of the electorate voted for Prince Hans Adam II's proposed constitution, giving him the right to dismiss governments, approve judicial nominees and veto laws.

The outspoken prince of Liechtenstein, who attracted controversy in Europe with a push for more power, announced that he would step down and hand the reins to his son. Prince Hans Adam II made the announcement during a party at his castle to mark the national day. Hans Adam, 58, said the hand-over to his son, Prince Alois, 35, would take place on the 2004 national day.