September 1 – South Asia: PAKISTAN
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf swears in a new federal 32-member cabinet, with 11 new ministers. Most of the ministers come from the largest party in the coalition, the Pakistan Muslim League, and eight from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan People’s Party.
September 1 – Latin America: PANAMA
Panama swears in Martin Torrijos as its new president. In his speech after the ceremony, Torrijos promises to call a referendum on projects to modernize the Panama Canal and to investigate alleged human-rights abuses under the rule of his father, Omar Torrijos. He also promises to improve Panama’s relations with Cuba.
September 1 – International Organizations/Europe: THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL/BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
The Hague Tribunal finds a former member of the Bosnian Serb government, Radoslav Brdjanin, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and sentences him to 32 years in prison. Brdjanin authorized the torture and forcible deportation of Croats and Muslims from parts of Bosnia.
September 2 – Europe: FRANCE
France’s controversial law banning Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols from public schools comes into effect despite threats on the part of Iraqi terrorists to kill two French journalists if France does not abandon the law. The ban expresses France’s tradition of strict separation of state and religion.
September 2 – Europe: RUSSIA
A Russian court issues a new order that will freeze bank accounts of the Russian oil giant, Yukos, which could push it into bankruptcy. The Russian government demands that Yukos pay billions of dollars in back taxes. The new court order halts payments for workers and prevents the company from settling accounts.
September 3 – Europe: RUSSIA
Russian troops storm the Beslan school in North Ossetia where hundreds of children and adults have been held hostage for the third day. At least 326 people are killed and 727 injured. Russian officials say that the hostage takers were Chechen rebels backed by foreign Muslim militants. The Russian government also offers $10 million for information leading to the arrest of Chechen rebel leaders Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov.
September 5 – South Asia: INDIA/PAKISTAN
The Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers hold two days of talks, the first in three years, with Kashmir on the top of the agenda. India is exploring the possibility of easing of restrictions along the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
September 8 – Middle East/North America: IRAQ/UNITED STATES
The Pentagon announces that the U.S. military casualties in Iraq have reached 1,000 since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The figure reopens debate about President George W. Bush’s decision to go to war in Iraq. Violence continues in Baghdad’s Sadr City and in Falluja.
September 9 – Middle East/North America: IRAQ/TURKEY/UNITED STATES
U.S. and Iraqi forces launch an offensive in Iraq’s northern town of Talafar, which is said to be a sanctuary for militants entering Iraq from Syria. Turkey urges the U.S. to stop the military operation, saying that ethnic Turks have been killed in air strikes. The U.S. forces are also fighting anti-coalition insurgents in Falluja for the fourth consecutive day.
September 9 – East Asia: INDONESIA
A huge explosion outside the Australian Embassy in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, kills eight people and injures about 100. The police blame this suicide attack on the militant group Jemaah Islamiah.
September 9 – Latin America: GRENADA
Powerful Hurricane Ivan sweeps through Grenada, destroying 90 percent of the island’s buildings and killing at least nine people. The hurricane causes property damage estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars and destroys the country’s key export crop, nutmeg. Prime Minister Keith Mitchell declares a national disaster.
September 13 – East Asia: CHINA
Pro-Beijing parties win a majority of seats in Hong Kong’s legislative elections, gaining 34 out of 60 seats, while pro-democracy parties increase their seats only by three, reaching 25. Thirty of the Legislative Council seats are elected by popular vote, and 30 by special interest groups favoring pro-Beijing relations.
September 13 – Middle East: ISRAEL
Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opposes the plan of unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlements from the Palestinian territory of Gaza and calls for a national referendum. Thousands of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip and their supporters rally in Jerusalem against the plan.
September 13 – Europe: RUSSIA
In response to recent deadly attacks on civilians in Russia, President Vladimir Putin orders drastic reforms to strengthen the central government. His plan includes changing voting rules for parliament, nomination of regional governors by the head of state rather than by popular election, the formation of a new federal commission to study the troubled North Caucasus region, international cooperation of security services, and harsher punishments for corrupt officials who help terrorists.
September 14 – Middle East: IRAQ
A car bomb explodes in central Baghdad, close to a police station, killing 47 people and injuring more than 100. Gunmen also kill 12 policemen and a civilian in Baquba, north of Baghdad. The Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s group claims responsibility for the attacks. Angry Iraqis blame the U.S. military and the Iraqi interim government for failing to provide security.
September 15 – South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
Three Americans, Jonathan Idema, Brent Bennett, and Edward Caraballo, are sentenced to prison in Afghanistan for running a private jail in Kabul and torturing Afghans. Idema says that his activity was approved by Afghan and U.S. authorities. His lawyer argued for charges to be dismissed because the Afghan legal system was not fit to try the Americans.
September 15 – North America/South Asia: UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN
Three Americans, Jonathan Idema, Brent Bennett, and Edward Caraballo, are sentenced to prison in Afghanistan for running a private jail in Kabul and torturing Afghans. Idema says that his activity was approved by Afghan and U.S. authorities. His lawyer argued for charges to be dismissed because the Afghan legal system was not fit to try the Americans.
September 19 – East Asia: CHINA
Chinese President Hu Jintao takes over the leadership of the powerful Central Military Commission, which gives him vast influence in such areas as security and foreign policy, and consolidates his position as supreme leader of the country.
September 19 – Former Soviet Republics: KAZAKHSTAN
The Kazakh electoral commission announces that President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Otan party wins the parliamentary elections, obtaining 60 percent of the votes. The Asar Party led by Nazarbayev’s daughter, comes in second. The largest opposition party, the Ak Zhol Party, attracts about 17 percent of the vote. International observers condemn the country’s media for severe bias in favor of the president and lack of transparency. The election is seen as a test of democracy in Kazakhstan.
September 20 – Africa: SUDAN
Sudan reluctantly confirms it will comply with a new UN Security Council resolution to disarm the militias and end the conflict in the region of Darfur. However, Sudan condemns the threat of sanctions included in the resolution. The resolution also asks UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to set up a commission to investigate whether the killings in Darfur constitute genocide.
September 20 – Africa/North America: LIBYA/UNITED STATES
U.S. President George W. Bush officially lifts all remaining trade sanctions on Libya, which affected trade, aviation, and imports of Libyan oil, as a reward for Libya’s decision to abandon its ambitions to acquire weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. also lifts a freeze on Libya’s assets. However, the U.S. decides to keep some terrorism-related sanctions.
September 20 – Latin America: PERU
Peru’s self-exiled former President Alberto Fujimori reveals his plan to run for the presidency in 2006, despite being banned from running for public office. He is wanted in Peru for various charges, including corruption, murder, and kidnapping.
September 20 – International Organizations/Africa: UNITED NATIONS/SUDAN
Sudan reluctantly confirms it will comply with a new UN Security Council resolution to disarm the militias and end the conflict in the region of Darfur. However, Sudan condemns the threat of sanctions included in the resolution. The resolution also asks UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to set up a commission to investigate whether the killings in Darfur constitute genocide.
September 21 – South Asia: NEPAL
More than 10,000 Nepalese rally in the capital, Kathmandu, demanding the restoration of the parliament. Some also demand elections for the constituent assembly. Pressured by the opposition, King Gyanendra reinstated the prime minister earlier this year; however, it is believed that he did not give him back all his powers.
September 21 – Middle East/International Organizations: SYRIA/LEBANON/UNITED NATIONS
Syria starts redeployment of its troops from Lebanon after the UN Security Council’s adoption of a resolution demanding that Syria withdraw its troops from Lebanon. So far, up to 3,000 troops out of 17,000 are relocating from around the country’s capital, but it is unclear whether the resolution will force Syria to a full withdrawal from Lebanon.
September 22 – Latin America: HAITI
More than 1,514 people die and about 900 are missing after Hurricane Jeanne goes through Haiti, causing devastating flooding and mudslides. Also, about 175,000 people are left without food, water, and electricity. Haiti is unusually vulnerable to flooding and mudslides because of widespread deforestation. Distribution of humanitarian aid is hindered by the lack of security.
September 23 – International Organizations/Africa: UNITED NATIONS/SIERRA LEONE
Two years after the civil war in Sierra Leone, UN peacekeepers hand over control of security of the country’s capital, Freetown, to local forces. This is the next step toward withdrawing the remaining 8,000 UN peacekeepers. The UN has already withdrawn from parts of the north, south, and east of Sierra Leone.
September 24 – Europe: RUSSIA
The Chechen rebel leader, Aslan Maskhadov, condemns Shamil Basayev, another Chechen rebel leader and his former comrade, for organizing the Beslan school siege, and says Basayev should be put on trial in an independent Chechnya. He also insists that Chechen forces under his control were not involved in this attack. Maskhadov’s fighters were, however, behind the recent bombings of two Russian airliners and the Moscow underground.
September 26 – Europe/International Organizations: GERMANY/ITALY/UNITED NATIONS
Italy criticizes Germany for applying for a permanent UN Security Council seat, saying that going along the national lines of interests would undermine the unity of Europe. Germany argues Europe would lose out if it were the only region without a new representative on an enlarged council. Other countries applying for permanent-member status are Brazil, India, and Japan.
September 27 – Europe: SWITZERLAND
In a referendum, Swiss voters reject proposals to loosen the country’s strict citizenship laws. Both proposals, to ease naturalization for foreigners brought up and educated in Switzerland and to grant automatic citizenship to the grandchildren of immigrants, were defeated. The supporters argue that too many people are left out from the country’s direct democracy system, while right-wing parties say immigrants would weaken Swiss identity.
September 28 – East Asia: NORTH KOREA
North Korea announces that it has turned plutonium from 8,000 spent fuel rods into nuclear weapons, which it needs for self-defense against the perceived U.S. nuclear threat.
September 29 – East Asia: BRUNEI
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei signs several amendments to the 1959 constitution, allowing the first elections in 40 years. Fifteen members of the parliament will be directly elected while he will appoint 30 others. Brunei’s last direct election took place in 1962 and was won by a party opposed to royal rule.
September 29 – Africa: SOUTH AFRICA
South African unions reach an agreement with the government to end one of the biggest public-sector strikes in the country’s history. The agreement allows for a 6.2 percent pay increase and an additional one percent for satisfactory work. Not all unions, however, sign the agreement. The South African Police Union (SAPU) and nurses union (DENOSA) say the agreement does not serve the needs of their members.