March 1 — Latin America: COLOMBIA/ECUADOR/VENEZUELA
Colombian forces enter Ecuador to raid a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) camp, killing senior rebel leader Raúl Reyes. The incursion provokes a regional diplomatic crisis as Ecuador and Venezuela sever diplomatic relations with Colombia and send troops to their respective Colombian borders. Meanwhile, Colombia accuses its neighboring governments of providing financial and other support to the FARC, based on information from computers seized in the raid.
March 1 — Former Soviet Republics: ARMENIA
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan declares a 20-day state of emergency in response to mass demonstrations and violent clashes between protestors and police in Yerevan, Armenia. The protestors dispute Serge Sargsyans victory over former President Levon Ter-Petrossian in the February 19 presidential election. Armenia’s Constitutional Court acknowledges election violations, but says they did not affect the outcome.
March 2 — Europe: RUSSIA
Dmitry Medvedev wins 70 percent of the vote in a Russian presidential election that is widely criticized as flawed. President Vladimir Putin, who is to become prime minister after his term expires in May, endorsed Medvedev. Previously, Medvedev was chairman of Russia’s state-run gas monopoly, Gazprom, and Putins First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of social programs.
March 2 — Middle East: IRAN/IRAQ
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pays an official visit to Iraq, where he meets with the countrys president, Jalal Talabani. This is the first-ever visit to Iraq by an Iranian president. The visit reflects the stabilization of relations between the two countries after the long Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Both sides promise to strengthen political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
March 3 — Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Israel withdraws most of its troops from the Gaza Strip after five days of ground and air attacks on Palestinian fighters. More than 100 Palestinians, including civilians, and three Israelis were killed during the incursion. The operation was launched in response to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. In the meantime, human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, Save the Children, CARE, and others, report that the Gaza Strip faces the worst humanitarian crisis in 40 years as a result of Israel’s blockade of the territory.
March 8 — East Asia: MALAYSIA
Malaysia’s ruling National Front coalition, in its largest electoral setback since independence in 1957, loses the two-thirds parliamentary majority it has held since 1969. It also manages to keep control of only eight out of 13 state governments. Ethnic tensions, crime, and inflation are blamed for the National Front’s defeat. Pressure builds for Prime Minister Abduallah Ahmad Badawi to step down.
March 14 — East Asia: CHINA
Chinese police use tear gas and gunfire to suppress violent anti-China riots in Tibet, which spread from the capital of Lhasa to other places within the region, lasting several days. Beijing blames the Dalai Lama, Tibets spiritual leader, for fomenting the Lhasa riots in an attempt to disrupt the Bejing Olympics in August.
March 16 — Europe/Global Organizations: KOSOVO/UNITED NATIONS
More than a hundred people are injured and one UN officer killed in violent clashes in the Kosovar town of Mitrovica. The incident happens during an attempt by UN forces to retake the local courthouse occupied by Serbs opposed to Kosovos independence. This is the worst unrest in Kosovo since its declaration of independence last month.
March 18 — Europe: BELGIUM
After intense negotiations, five Dutch- and French-speaking parties agree to form a coalition government led by Christian Democrat Yves Leterme. The agreement ends a nine-month political deadlock over the degree of devolution to be given to regional governments. The new government plans a major reform of the state.
March 22 — East Asia: TAIWAN
Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) party wins the Taiwanese presidential election by a wide margin over Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Ma promises to improve relations with China, seeking closer economic ties and direct transport links with the mainland. In the same ballot, voters reject the option for the island to apply to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan, rather than Republic of China.
March 24 — South Asia: BHUTAN
Bhutan holds its first-ever general elections, as part of the transition to a constitutional monarchy as ordained by its king. The Bhutan Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) wins 44 out of 47 seats in parliament, though the only two parties running had similar platforms, both pledging commitment to the kings policy of Gross National Happiness.
March 25 — Africa: COMOROS/AFRICAN UNION
An African Union force of 1,350 troops invades the rebel-held island of Anjouan, one of three islands that make up the Comoros, and topples its renegade leader, Mohamed Bacar. Bacar, who unilaterally declared himself president of the semi-autonomous Anjouan, had threatened to turn it into a microstate.
March 25 — South Asia: PAKISTAN
Yousuf Raza Gillani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is sworn in as prime minister, leading a coalition government with Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). In his first act as prime minister, Gillani orders the release of judges detained under President Pervez Musharraf and promises to restore them to their positions.
March 26 — Europe/Former Soviet Republics: BELARUS
Belarusian police forcefully break up an unapproved rally to mark the anniversary of Belarus’ short-lived independence in 1918. The opposition uses the event to protest against the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.
March 29 — Middle East: ARAB LEAGUE/SYRIA
An Arab League annual summit hosted by Syria is boycotted by 10 of the 22 Arab League members, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon. By boycotting the summit, the countries protest Syria’s involvement in Lebanon’s ongoing presidential crisis. Differences on other issues, such as Palestinian factional divide and relations with Iran, have also contributed to the weakening of relations between Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.
March 30 — Middle East: IRAQ
Iraqs radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr orders his followers to cease fire after a fierce, week-long battle with the Iraqi army in Basra, Baghdad, and other Shiite regions that leaves hundreds dead. The unsuccessful army crackdown on militias in Basra was directed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
March 31 — Latin America: ARGENTINA
Farmers in Argentina resume a three-week-long protest against hikes in export taxes on farm products imposed by Argentinean President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on March 11. The massive protests, including strikes and roadblocks, have created food shortages around the country. The farmers had suspended the protests on March 28, but say that talks with the government failed to address their grievances.