JULY 2006

Cuba

Fidel Castro handed over power to his brother, Defense Minister Raul Castro, after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery (Reuters).

1 JULY 2006

Iraq

A car bomb attack in Baghdad, in the Sadr City area, killed 62 people (CNN.com).

China, Hong Kong

There was a pro-democracy demonstration which organizers claimed drew over 50,000 people (AP).

2 JULY 2006

Iraq

A bomb attack in Baghdad killed four people (CNN.com).

Bangladesh

There were violent clashes between police and opposition activists in Dhaka. The political opposition is staging a blockade of transportation networks over its demands for reforms in the caretaker-government system and the election commission (CNN.com).

2 JULY-5 SEPTEMBER 2006

Mexico, politics

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on 2 July. The presidential vote was close and Felipe Calderon was not declared the winner until September.

On the 6th the Federal Electoral Institute announced that, in the presidential election, the National Action Party's (PAN) Calderon won 35.9% of the vote and former Mexico City mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) won 35.3%. Roberto Madrazo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) won 22%. Lopez Obrador charged the PAN with fraud and appealed Calderon's victory to the Federal Electoral Tribunal. Observers from the EU said they found no irregularities in the count (CNN.com).

On the 9th electoral authorities announced that the PAN won 206 seats in the 500-seat Chamber of Deputies, up from the 151 it won in the July 2003 elections. The PRD won 127 seats, up from 97, and the PRI won 103, down from 224 (CNN.com, IFES).

On 30 July Lopez Obrador held a rally in Mexico City attended by about 500,000 people. He called for a continuous peaceful presence in Mexico City by his supporters to put pressure on the Federal Electoral Tribunal to rule on his request for a full recount.

On 5 August the Tribunal decided on a recount of ballots from 9 percent of the country's 130,000 polling places. On the 28th they announced the results, which reduced Calderon's 240,000 vote advantage by just over 4,000.

On 5 September the Tribunal declared Calderon the winner by 233,831 votes out of 41.6 million cast and said that though there were some problems, they were not serious enough to annul the results (AP).

5 JULY 2006

North Korea, military affairs

There were test-flights of one long-range Taepodong-2 ballistic missile along with several other short-range missiles. The Taepodong-2 failed after 42 seconds, according to a US official. The US called the Taepodong-2 test “provocative behavior”.1

Macedonia, politics

In parliamentary elections, the Coalition led by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) defeated Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski's Together for Macedonia coalition. The VMRO-DPMNE won 44 seats; Together for Macedonia won 32 seats, down from the 60 it won in the September 2002 elections. The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) won 18 seats and the Democratic Party of Albanians won 7. Turnout was about 56%. The 36% unemployment rate appeared to be a major issue in the election (IFES, www.rulers.org, AP).

5-8 JULY 2006

Israel, Gaza Strip

On 5 July Israeli ground forces crossed into northern Gaza. Israel said the purpose of the “limited incursion” into northern Gaza was to stop rocket attacks against southern Israel and that there was no intention to reoccupy the Gaza Strip (CNN.com). On the 8th the Israelis left the area.2

6 JULY 2006

Moldova

An explosion on a bus in Tiraspol killed eight people (AP).

7-9 JULY 2006

Iraq

A car bomb attack on a Sunni mosque in the Hay al Jihad area of Baghdad on the 7th was followed the following evening by a bomb attack on a Shiite place of prayer in the same area which killed 12 people. On the 9th, gunmen roamed through the area, killing 42 Sunnis. Later that day two car bombs in the Karsa neighborhood killed at least 19 (CNN.com).

9-12 JULY 2006

Israel, Gaza Strip

Sporadic air strikes continued against Palestinian militants (CNN.com).

10 JULY 2006

Russia

Shamil Basayev was killed by security forces in Ingushetia. The Federal Security Service (FSS) said its agents killed Basayev and 12 other Chechen militants by exploding a truck bomb next to several cars they were riding in.3

Iraq

A car bomb in eastern Baghdad killed five people. A truck bomb in Kirkuk killed three (CNN.com).

11 JULY 2006

India

A coordinated terrorist attack on commuter trains and stations in Mumbai, involving seven near-simultaneous bomb attacks during the evening rush hour, killed at least 186 people and wounded about 700. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The next day the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba terrorist group denied involvement. India later blamed Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba for the attack (see 30 September 2006) (CNN.com, Reuters).

Iraq

Several car bombings and attacks by gunmen on civilians in Baghdad killed around 20 people (CNN.com).

12 JULY 2006

Lebanon

There were Israeli air and artillery strikes on Hezbollah targets and some roads and bridges in the south after a Hezbollah cross-border raid into northern Israel in which two Israeli soldiers were captured. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the Lebanese government would be held responsible for the Hezbollah attack (CNN.com).

Philippines

The military said it had recently arrested six fugitive military officers who had been involved in the July 2003 mutiny (see 26-27 July 2003) and who were planning a new coup plot against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (AP).

Iraq

Two car bomb attacks in Baghdad killed nine people (CNN.com).

13 JULY 2006

Lebanon / Israel

Israeli aircraft hit runways and fuel storage tanks at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, as well as other Lebanese infrastructure and Hezbollah targets. The Israeli navy began a blockade of Lebanese ports. Hezbollah fired scores of rockets into northern Israel. Some rockets fell on Haifa; Hezbollah denied attacking that city; though it had earlier threatened it (CNN.com).

Iraq

British and Australian forces handed over responsibility for security in Muthanna province to Iraqi forces (AP).

Belarus, civil affairs

Opposition politician Alexander Kozulin was jailed for 5 1/2 years for organizing an unauthorized protest following the March elections (AP).

14 JULY 2006

India, foreign policy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the terrorists who attacked Mumbai on the 11th had support from inside Pakistan. He noted that Pakistan had assured India two years ago that its territory "would not be used to promote, encourage, aid and abet terrorism....That assurance has to be fulfilled before the peace process and other processes progress." Singh said India was certain that terror cells in the country "are instigated, inspired and supported by elements across the border, without which they cannot act with such devastating effect.” On the 17th Pakistan's Foreign Office said, "Pakistan does not allow its territory for any terrorist activity, this is our firm policy and commitment" (AP, CNN.com).

Lebanon / Israel

Hezbollah damaged an Israeli warship off the Lebanese coast with a C-802 SSM. Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets and Lebanese infrastructure continued. Israeli ambassador to the US Daniel Ayalon said the current offensive in Lebanon was designed to "de-fang the Hezbollah." According to the IDF, Hezbollah had accumulated about 10,000 rockets over the previous six years.4 Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel continued. Hezbollah threatened to attack Haifa if Israel attacked “the suburbs of Beirut” (CNN.com).

Iraq

A bomb attack at the Ismail Al-Qubaisi Mosque killed seven people (CNN.com).

14-18 JULY 2006

Israel, Gaza Strip

Israeli forces continued intermittent raids and strikes against militant and PA targets in Gaza City and Beit Hanoun (CNN.com).

15 JULY 2006

Lebanon / Israel

Israeli attacks continued, with increased attention given to Beirut, the ports of Tripoli, Amchit and Junieh, and roads and bridges near the eastern border with Syria. Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel continued.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said his government had not had knowledge of Hezbollah's plans and that Israel was collectively punishing all Lebanese. He called for a cease-fire so that Lebanon could "establish its sovereignty over all its lands". In response, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the crisis would have been averted if the Lebanese government had, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, disarmed Hezbollah, and that Israel was ready to implement a cease-fire based on those resolutions (CNN.com).

Diplomatic affairs

The UN Security Council passed a resolution banning UN member states from trading in NBC weapons or technology or ballistic missiles with North Korea, condemning North Korea's 5 July missile tests, demanding that it suspend its ballistic missile program and that it resume its moratorium on ballistic missile tests, and urging it to return to negotiations regarding its nuclear weapons program (AP).

16 JULY 2006

Iraq

A suicide bombing in Tuz Khormato killed at least 26 people. Another bomb attack in Baghdad killed four (AP).

16-21 JULY 2006

Lebanon / Israel

Israeli attacks in Lebanon continued, particularly in Beirut, against Hezbollah targets as well as Lebanese infrastructure. Hezbollah rocket attacks continued into northern Israel, including attacks on Haifa, Carmiel, Nahariya and Nazareth.

On the 19th Israel said it would not initiate warfare with Syria or Iran unless they attack Israel (CNN.com).

17 JULY 2006

Iraq

An attack by car bombs and gunmen on a market in Al Mahmudiyah killed at least 40 people (AP).

18 JULY 2006

Iraq

A suicide car bomb attack in Kufa killed at least 45 people.

A report by the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq said over 14,000 civilians were killed in the first half of the year, with over 5,800 of those deaths in May and June (CNN.com).

19 JULY 2006

Iraq

Hamed Jumaa Al Saeedi, also known as Abu Rana and Abu Humam, was captured near Baquba. He was said to be second-in-command of al Qaeda in Iraq and to have been involved in the Askariya Mosque bombing in Samarra in February. The US military later said that a great deal of intelligence was gained from Al Saeedi (CNN.com).

20 JULY 2006

Somalia

There were reports of Ethiopian troops in Baidoa (Baydhabo).5

Iraq

Two car bombs in Baghdad killed four people (CNN.com).

21 JULY 2006

Western Hemisphere, diplomatic affairs

Venezuela joined the Mercosur trade bloc (AP).

Cambodia

Former Khmer Rouge military chief Ta Mok died at age 82 in a military hospital in Phnom Penh (Reuters).

22 JULY 2006

Afghanistan

An attack by suicide bombers in Kandahar killed six civilians (AP).

22 JULY-13 AUGUST 2006

Lebanon / Israel

By the 22nd some Israeli ground forces had crossed into Lebanon and started attacking Hezbollah positions. On the 24th the Israelis began attacking Hezbollah forces in the Bint Jbeil area. On 1 August Israeli airbmobile forces raided Baalbeck. On 9 August Israeli forces crossed the Lebanese border and attacked Hezbollah fighters in Khiyam. By this time there were reportedly about 10,000 Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.6 There were air attacks in support of these operations, though strikes elsewhere in Lebanon continued.

Hezbollah rocket attacks into northern Israel also continued. On 6 August the IDF said Hezbollah had fired about 3,000 rockets at Israel since the beginning of hostilities. Also on the 6th, Israeli police said rockets which struck Haifa that day were Syrian 220mm rockets.

On the 11th, Israeli forces began a general advance north toward the Litani River, reportedly reaching it the next day (CNN.com).

23 JULY 2006

Iraq

A suicide car bomb attack on a market in the Sadr City area of Baghdad killed 32 people. A car bomb in Kirkuk killed 18.

24 JULY 2006

Economic affairs

The World Trade Organization's Doha round of global free trade talks was suspended over differences on reforming world farm trade, particularly with respect to how far rich nations should go in reducing agricultural subsidies and opening up their markets (Reuters).

Philippines

In Manila, about 10,000 people protested against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as she gave her annual address to the nation (AP).

25 JULY 2006

Diplomatic affairs

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki met US President Bush in Washington. Their meeting appeared to revolve mostly around ongoing efforts to quell sectarian violence in Baghdad, with some discussion of the situation in Lebanon. Following the meeting, Bush said, "Prime Minister Maliki was very clear this morning. He said he does not want American troops to leave his country until his government can protect the Iraqi people. And I assured him that America will not abandon the Iraqi people” (AP).

Also that day, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus (Reuters).

Democratic Republic of Congo

There was a violent protest by about 4,000 people in an outlying slum of Kinshasa (AP).

27 JULY 2006

Democratic Republic of Congo

Two militia groups in the northeast agreed to disarm: The 10,000-strong Congolese Revolutionary Movement and the 500-strong Cobra Matate milita.

There were clashes in Kinshasa between police and supporters of presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba (AP).

US, foreign policy

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved proposed increased nuclear cooperation with India (see 1-4 March 2006); there were several other hurdles the deal still had to pass (Reuters).

Iraq

In Baghdad, a mortar, rocket and car bomb attack on the Karradah district, a mostly Shiite area, killed at least 31 people and wounded over 150. The al-Sahaba Soldiers, a Sunni militant group, claimed responsibility (AP).

28 JULY 2006

Peru, politics

Alan Garcia, at his inauguration as President, said attacking poverty would be “the main focus” of his administration; at the same time it appeared he would follow a fiscally conservative economic policy (AP).

Somalia

Constitution and Federalism Minister Abdallah Deerow Isaq was assassinated in Baidoa (Reuters).

Diplomatic affairs

British Prime Minister Tony Blair met US President Bush in Washington. The two called for peacekeepers to be sent to southern Lebanon (CNN.com).

30 JULY 2006

Democratic Republic of Congo, politics

Elections were held for President and for a 500-seat legislature to replace the transitional government. In the presidential election, President Joseph Kabila won 44.8% of the vote, Jean-Pierre Bemba won 20.0%, and Antoine Gizenga won 13.1%; dozens of other candidates shared the rest. Kabila and Bemba were scheduled for a runoff on 29 October. In the parliamentary elections the biggest winners were the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy with 111 seats and Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo with 64. Turnout was 70.5% (www.rulers.org, IFES, AP).

Seychelles, politics

In a presidential election, President James Michel of the Seychelles People's Progressive Front was reelected with 53.7% of the vote; challenger Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party received 45.7%. Turnout was about 86% (www.rulers.org).

31 JULY 2006

Diplomatic affairs

The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding that Iran halt uranium enrichment by 31 August. Until now, all parties had recognized that any suspension of enrichment by the Iranians was a voluntary confidence-building measure, albeit one which the West required before it would negotiate with Iran on its nuclear program. The resolution also called on all states "to exercise vigilance" in preventing the transfer to Iran of items which could be used for its enrichment and ballistic missile programs. The IAEA was told to report back to the Council by 31 August on compliance with the resolution. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Javad Zarif, said the resolution had no legal basis and that "All along it has been the persistence of some to draw arbitrary red lines and deadlines that has closed the door to any compromise” (AP).

Notes

1. “US officials: North Korea tests long-range missile, CNN.com, 4 July 2006.

2. “Israel launches new strikes in Gaza”, CNN.com, 8 July 2006.

3. “Mastermind of Russian school seige killed”, CNN.com, 10 July 2006.

4. “Hezbollah rockets pound northern Israel”, CNN.com, 6 August 2006.

5. “Ethiopian troops cross into Somalia”, AP, 20 July 2006.

6. “Troops, tanks storm into southern Lebanon”, CNN.com, 9 August 2006.