Events in March 2003
|
Mar. 1
|
Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S., is nabbed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. |
Full Story
|
|
|
Iraq said it had destroyed four Al-Samoud 2 missiles as ordered by the United Nations weapons inspectors. |
|
|
|
Over 170 nations give their nod to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, that will clamp down on tobacco advertising and labelling, in Geneva. |
|
|
Mar. 3
|
Sheikh Mohammad Taha, a founder-leader of Hamas, is arrested by Israeli troops at a refugee camp, in Gaza. |
|
|
|
Pakistan denies handing over to U.S. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks and who was nabbed in Rawalpindi on Mar. 1st. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 5
|
France, Russia, Germany to block a second resolution in the U.N. Security Council opening the way for war on Iraq. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 6
|
Ninetyseven persons die after an Algerian plane crashes in the Sahara desert, on take-off from Tamanrasset. |
|
|
|
Fidel Castro (76), is elected President for a sixth term by Cuba's Parliament. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 7
|
Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat names Mahmoud Abbas Prime Minister. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 8
|
U.S. President George W. Bush vowed to disarm Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein by force if he did not disarm peacefully. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 11
|
The Turkish Prime Minister, Abdullah Gul quits in favour of the charismatic leader of the governing Justice and Development Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. |
Full Story
|
|
|
The International Criminal Court, the world's first permanent war crimes court, is formally launched, in The Hague, the Netherlands. |
|
|
|
The U.S. reimposes sanctions on Iran. |
|
|
Mar. 12
|
The Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic (50), is assassinated in Belgrade. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 14
|
The U.S. waives sanctions against Pakistan imposed in the aftermath of the 1999 military coup that propelled Pervez Musharraf to power. |
Full Story
|
|
|
Rebels loyal to former armed forces chief, Francis Bozize seize power in the Central African Republic. |
|
|
Mar. 15
|
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao succeeds Jiang Zamin as the country's sixth President, in a largely symbolic election in Beijing. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 16
|
Wen Jiabao (60), is elected China's Prime Minister. |
Full Story
|
|
|
Zoran Zivkovic is named Serbian Prime Minister. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 17
|
A 35-member Cabinet takes office in China. Li Zhaoxing is Foreign Minister and Cao Gangchuan gets Defence. |
Full Story
|
|
|
Robin Cook quits as the British Government's leader in the House of Commons over the Premier Tony Blair's handling of the Iraq crisis. |
Full Story
|
|
|
Maxwell Richards, is sworn in Trinidad President. |
|
|
Mar. 20
|
The U.S. launches attack on Iraq targeting key points in Baghdad, following the expiry of the ultimatum to President Saddam Hussein to leave the country. |
Full Story
|
|
Mar. 23
|
The new Government of the Turkish Prime Minister, Reccip Tayyip Erdogan, wins trust vote in Parliament. |
|
|
|
The musical "Chicago" wins the Oscar for the best film at the 75th Academy Awards in Hollywood. Adrien Brody bags Best Actor Award for his role in "The Pianist" and Nicole Kidman, Best Actress ("The Hours"). Peter O' Toole gets an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. |
|
|
|
Slovenes endorse membership in NATO and the EU in referendums. |
|
|
|
Chechnya returns to Russian fold. |
Full Story
|
Mar. 28
|
Japan launches two spy satellites from the Tanegashima Space Centre. |
|
Events 2003
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
|
