Distinct, ordered XML nodes

I have the following XML:

Code:

---

<places>

  <place id=1>
      <name>...</name>
      <country>...</country>
      .....
  </place>
 
  <place id=2>
      .......
  </place>

    ........

</places>

---

Many nodes can have the same country. What I want to do is create a select box, in ASP, with the list of countries, in alphabetical order.

I have the following, but this is not in order and has duplicated countries in the list.

Code:

---

Set oXML = getXML("places.xml")
Set oNL = oXML.selectNodes("//place/country")

For i = 0 to oNL.length - 1
    strCountry = strCountry & "<option value=""" & oNL.item(i).text & """>" & oNL.item(i).text & vbcrlf
Next

---

Any ideas how I can do this?

RKW