Portal:Current events/2004 October 19

October 19, 2004 (Tuesday)

In Minsk, Belarus, protests continue over the results of Monday's referendum, which permitted President Alexander Lukashenko to seek a third term. At least 30 protesters are arrested, including opposition leader Anatoly Lebedko. Supporters say Lebedko was badly beaten by police and was refused treatment for his injuries. (BBC)
Hassan Rowhani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, says that he believes Iran's interests would be better served by the election of Republican incumbent George W. Bush, rather than Democrat John Kerry, to the US Presidency. (Yahoo News/AP) (Link dead as of 22:35, 14 January 2007 (UTC))
Conflict in Iraq:
- An unknown militant group kidnaps Margaret Hassan, head of the international charity CARE International, in Baghdad, Iraq. Ms. Hassan holds British, Irish and Iraqi citizenship. (Reuters)^{[permanent dead link]} (Link dead as of 22:35, 14 January 2007 (UTC)), (AAP Australia)
- A mortar attack on an US army compound in central Baghdad kills a U.S. contractor, while another mortar attack, on an Iraqi National Guard base in Mushahida, kills four guardsmen and injures 80. Iraqi security forces, backed by U.S. Marines, arrest 100 suspected insurgents south of Baghdad. Three car bombs kill two Iraqis in Mosul. (BBC)
British police charge Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri with 16 crimes, including encouraging the murder of non-Muslims. (Reuters)^{[permanent dead link]} (Link dead as of 22:35, 14 January 2007 (UTC))
British and German officials announce that, on Thursday, representatives of France, the United Kingdom, and Germany will meet in Vienna with Iranian officials to offer Iran a final chance to halt uranium enrichment plans before proposed U.N. sanctions are imposed. (Reuters)^{[permanent dead link]} (Link dead as of 22:35, 14 January 2007 (UTC))
Thai officials say that Myanmar's military has removed the current prime minister of Myanmar, General Khin Nyunt, from office and placed him under house arrest. (BBC)
Polytechnic University of the Philippines celebrates its centennial founding.
In its annual report on national militaries, the International Institute for Strategic Studies says that the US-led invasion of Iraq has, at least for the short term, increased the risk of terrorism. (ABC) (Reuters) (Link dead as of 22:35, 14 January 2007 (UTC))
A team of explorers reached the bottom of the world's deepest cave, located in Krubera. The depth reached was 2,080 meters (6,824 feet), setting a world record. (National Geographic)