| ASSYRIA | A small modern-day country; a vast ancient kingdom (7) |
| LIBERIA | Country - a vast, bleak, cold region - needs new leader (7) |
| MODICUM | A little modern, I see, mother; topless - well, just a little bit! (7) |
| MODULI | The absolute values of small modern university on island (6) |
| TUNISIA | Carthage is in this modern-day country (7) |
| DAHOMEY | Former African kingdom located within the area of the present-day country of Benin (7) |
| MARITAL | Partnership's taking a month and country a year off (7) |
| SOMALIA | So, an African country, a country in Africa (7) |
| PERUSAL | Country a league from south Reading (7) |
| ANIMATE | Living around country, a friend (7) |
| REALISM | Ingres on vacation introduced to the country a style of painting (7) |
| FINLAND | Country, a third of which lies within the Arctic circle (7) |
| AUSTRIA | Aluminium exported from large country, a place in Europe (7) |
| CROATIA | This Balkan country, a growing tourism hotspot, is where the necktie was invented (7) |
| IRAQ | Modern-day country that occupies much of the land of ancient Mesopotamia |
| CAPITAL | The most important town or city of a country, a state, usually the seat of government and administrative center |
| BAHAMAS | Country a degree ahead of fundamentalists |
| SIBERIA | Son ousts leader of African country, a place of exile |
| NIRVANA | In North Country, a very blissful place |
| BULIMIA | I'm replacing fish in country - a problem for some consumers? |
