MEMORIES

About one third of Iran’s Parliament steps down to protest hard-line Guardian Council’s banning of more than 2,000 reformists from running in parliamentary elections (Feb. 1).

1. Q. Khan, founder of Pakistan’s nuclear program, admits he sold nuclear-weapons designs to other countries, including North Korea, Iran, and Libya (Feb. 4).

Armed rebels in Haiti force President Aristide to resign and flee the country (Feb. 29).

Spain is rocked by terrorist attacks, killing more than 200. Al Qaeda takes responsibility (March 11).

Spain’s governing Popular Party loses election to opposition Socialists. Outcome seen as a reaction to terrorist attacks days before and Popular Party’s support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq (March 14).

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formally admits 7 new countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (March 29).

Israeli prime minister Sharon announces plan to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza Strip (April 12).

Greek Cypriots reject UN reunification plan with Turkish Cypriots (April 24).

Sudan rebels (SPLA) and government reach accord to end 21-year civil war. However, separate war in western Darfur region between Arab militias and black Africans continues unabated (May 26).

U.S. troops launch offensive in Falluja in response to killing and mutilation on March 31 of four U.S. civilian contractors. (April 5–May 1).

U.S. hands over power to Iraqi interim government; Iyad Allawi becomes prime minister (June 28).

Security Council demands Sudanese government disarm militias in Darfur that are massacring civilians (July 30).

Summer Olympics take place in Athens, Greece (Aug. 13–29).

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez survives recall referendum (Aug. 16).

Chechen terrorists take about 1,200 schoolchildren and others hostage in Beslan, Russia; 340 people die when militant detonate explosives (Sept. 1–3).

UN Atomic Energy Agency tells Iran to stop enriching uranium; a nascent nuclear weapons program suspected (Sept. 18).

About 380 tons of explosives reported missing in Iraq (Oct. 25).

Yasir Arafat dies in Paris (Nov. 11).

U.S. troops launch attack on Falluja, stronghold of the Iraqi insurgency (Nov. 8).

Ukraine presidential election declared fraudulent (Nov. 21).

Hamid Karzai inaugurated as Afghanistan’s first popularly elected president (Dec. 7).

Massive protests by supporters of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko’s lead to a new Ukrainian election; Yushchenko eventually declared prime minister (Dec. 26).

Enormous tsunami devastates Asia; 200,000 killed (Dec. 26).

Me, Myself and I – Beyonce