The abbreviated syntax to refer to the parent node is ".."  [In case
you're interested, the full function is "from-parent(node())"]

To specify the attribute "first" use "@first".  Stringing them together
with a "/" and substituting it in the select statement gives:

    <xsl:template match="COUNTRY">
       <xsl:value-of select="../@first"/>
    </xsl:template>

    <NAME first="john" last="mike">
         <COUNTRY></COUNTRY>
    </NAME>

How can i get the value of an attribute from a parent
element/from an element in the top of the hirarchy.

<NAME first="john" last="mike">
   <COUNTRY><COUNTRY>
</NAME>

<xsl:templte match "NAME">
   <xsl:apply-templates/>
</xsl:template>

<xsl:template match="COUNTRY">
 <xsl:value of select=??, i want value of first>
</xsl:template?

Regards.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com

XSL-List info and archive: http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list