International Events in December 1999
Dec. 1
Seattle appears calm after a day of violence and sporadic looting.
The European Court of Human Rights asks Turkey to suspend the death sentence of Mr. Abdullah Ocalan.
Dec. 2
The U.S. bans child labour.
The military regime in Pakistan amends the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Protests continue in Seattle for second day.
Parliament of world's religions, only third in 106 years, meets in Cape Town.
U.K. transfers power to New Government in Northern Ireland.
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine is closed.
Dec. 3
Deadlock in Seattle talks.
Attackers sabotage the power supply to the WTO headquarters in Geneva.
Mr. Sem Nujama's Swapo party wins the presidential and parliamentary elections in Namibia.
A hunt is on for a man who claims to have killed 100 begger children in Pakistan.
Dec. 4 WTO talks collapse, NGOs claim victory in Seattle
The ex-General of Argentina, Gen. Guillermo SuareJan. Mason is arrested for kidnapping babies in the ``dirty war''.
China sentences a U.S. based missile expert to 15 years in jail for leaking state secrets.
Dec. 5
31 people are killed in Christian-Muslim clashes in Maluku, Indonesia.
Thousands stage rally for Basque independence in Spain.
Dec. 6
A leader of the Hutu militia group is convicted by a U.N. Tribunal and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Dec. 7
The U.S. President, Mr. Clinton attacks China on Falun Gong issue and also Russia on Chechnya.
Russia rejects west's criticism on Chechnya issue.
Two Libians accused of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, appear in open court.
Peace not possible without resolving Kashmir, says the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Musharraf.
Dec. 8
The former Pakistani Prime Minister, Mr. NawaJan. Sharif is charged with `waging war' in the plane hijack case.
The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid rules out Acch independence
Russia and Belarus sign uniform treaty.
`Star wars' tops the world's top 10 movies according to the latest survey of the BBC
The police chief of Seattle resigns.
NASA gives up hope on the space craft mars polar lander.
Dec. 9
The deposed Pakistani Prime Minister, Mr. NawaJan. Sherif's nephew and son-in-law are arrested.
Israel tells Syria no pullout from Golan heights is possible.
France stays ban on British beef.
The President of the radical Porti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS), is chosen the leader of the Opposition.
Dec. 10
The Centre-left Coalition Government comes to power in New Zealand.
A prominent human rights activist of Pakistan is barred by the military regime from leaving the country.
Dec. 11
Over 230 LTTE rebels are killed when Sri Lankan forces repulse two massive sea and land attacks by them.
The Taiwan born U.S. Scientist, Mr. Wen Ho Lee, is arrested and charged with downloading arms secrets.
Turkey accepts E.U. candidacy
The President of Croatia, Mr. Franjo Tudjman is dead.
Dec. 12
Iraq will resume oil exports following a suspension of three weeks.
Switzerland in a report admits its role in holocaust.
Dec. 13
A state of emergency is declared in Sudan.
Algerian Muslim rebels kill 15 civilians in Algiers.
Fighting between LTTE and the Sri Lankan troops intensifies.
Dec. 14
LTTE destroys rader installation near Jaffna in Sri Lanka.
The U.N. war crimes tribunal sentences a Bosnian Serb Camp Guard, Goran Jelosic to 40 years in prison for the murder and torture of Muslims in 1992.
Russia begins clean-up operation in Shali in Chechnya.
Dec. 15
The U.S. formally transfers the control over the Panama Canal to Panama.
Russia rejects a Chechen offer of talks.
An apartheid Minister gets amnesty from South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Japan enacts a bill banning donations to politicians.
Dec. 16
The U.S. agrees to pay $28 million to China for the NATO bombing of its embassy in Belgrade
17
Russia's former Premier, Mr. Yevgeny Primakov, announces he will run for President next year.
The U.N. Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, apologises for the U.N. role in Rwanda massacre.
Scientists discover a complete 3.3 million-year-old arm and hand of an ape-man in South Africa.
Dec. 18
The Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, narrowly escapes an attempt on her life with minor injuries by a suspected woman suicide bomber. Thirteen people are killed. In another blast at the Opposition UNP meeting, nine are killed.
Curfew is clamped in Colombo.
China is all set to retake Macau from Portuguese after a gap of 443 years.
Sign of progress in Israel-Syria talks as the Hizbollah pledges to end war.
Britain announces that it will write-off debt of some of the poorest countries.
The Colombian Police turn down a $3 million bribe offer from a drug lord when they nabbed him.
An Algerian national is arrested by the U.S. Customs authorities for carrying explosives.
Georgia alleges bombing by Russia.
Dec. 19
Sri Lankan polls as scheduled. Curfew is lifted.
The Russian Communist party is ahead in the Country's Parliamentary election.
More than 600 people are killed and thousands are missing in floods and mudslips in Venezuela.
The Portuguese Colony for 443 years, Macau returns to China.
The Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Massimo D'Alema, resigns.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan disqualifies former Punjab Chief Minister from holding Public office or contesting elections for 21 years.
Dec. 20
The Space shuttle, Discovery takes off on an eight-day mission to fix the Hubble telescope.
The Sri Lankan President, Ms.Chandrika Kumaratunga, returns to home from a private hospital two-days after she escapes an assassination bid.
Tight security for Sri Lanka elections
Russians elect a hung Parliament.
The former U.S. President, Mr. Ronald Reagon's condition worsens as he was diagnosed with a alzheimer's disease five years ago.
Priest among nine are killed in a latest clash between Muslims and Christian in Ambon, Indonesia.
Dec. 21
75 per cent polling in Sri Lanka.
The Governor of Osaka, Mr. Knock Yokoyama resigns in the wake of a sexual harrassment scandal.
Russia denies a western media report accusing its troops of killing 41 civilians in a Chechen village.
Mr. Massimo D'Alema, is asked to form a new Government in Italy.
30,000 feared dead in Venezuela floods.
Dec. 22
Ms. Chandrika is sworn in President of Sri Lanka for a second term and warns LTTE
The Space shuttle, Discovery captures the Hubble telecope.
Army takes control of Venezuela
The U.S. pays $151 million part of its dues to the U.N.
The new Romanian Government under the Prime Minister. Mr. Mugur Isarescu is sworn in.