1 JUNE 2006

Iraq

The government announced it had captured Hamza Khair al-Aini, accused of killing dozens of civilians and security personnel, in Abu Saydah (CNN.com).

Israel, Gaza Strip

Thousands of PA police protested against Hamas in Gaza City.

A survey by The Near East Consulting Agency found that 89% of Palestinians support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (AP).

2 JUNE 2006

Nepal

About 200,000 people attended a rally in Kathmandu protesting against King Gyanendra (AP).

2-3 JUNE 2006

Czech Republic, politics

In parliamentary elections the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and its two allies won 100 of 200 seats. Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek's Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) won 74 seats while its ally, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) won 26 seats, down from 41 in the June 2002 elections. Turnout was 64.5%. On the 5th President Václav Klaus asked ODS leader Mirek Topolánek to form a government (www.rulers.org, IFES, CNN.com).

3 JUNE 2006

Iraq

A bomb attack in Basra killed at least 33 people (CNN.com).

4 JUNE 2006

Peru, politics

In the presidential runoff Alan Garcia defeated Ollanta Humala with 52.6% of the vote to Humala's 47.4%; turnout was 87.7% (www.rulers.org).

5 JUNE 2006

Diplomatic affairs, Iran

A package of incentives, agreed upon by the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, was proposed to Iran in return for Iran suspending uranium enrichment and returning to negotiations on its nuclear program. The incentives reportedly included: 1) improving Iran's access to the international economy through participation in groups such as the World Trade Organization (WTO); 2) modernizing Iran's telecommunication industry; 3) possibly lifting restrictions on the sale of civil aircraft to Iran; 4) support for a civil nuclear power program in Iran and construction of light water power reactors. Iran would have to participate in an international facility in Russia which would provide uranium enrichment services for the supply of fuel for Iran's reactors. Iran said it would study the proposal (CNN.com).

Somalia

The Islamic Courts Union claimed to have taken control of most of Mogadishu from an alliance of warlords (CNN.com).

5-6 JUNE 2006

Serbia and Montenegro

President Svetozar Marovic stepped down on the 5th and his government dissolved itself. The next day the Serbian parliament declared Serbia a sovereign state. Serbia inherits Serbia and Montenegro's membership in the UN and other international organizations (AP).

6 JUNE 2006

Iraq

A car bomb in southeast Baghdad killed five (CNN.com).

7 JUNE 2006

Iraq

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, and several others were killed by a US airstrike on a safehouse near Baquba (CNN.com).

Nigeria

Militants raided an oil facility in the Port Harcourt area, abducting several workers; they were demanding the release of two local leaders (CNN.com).

8 JUNE 2006

Iraq, politics

Parliament approved Jawad Bolani, a Shiite, as interior minister, ground forces commander Gen. Abdel Qader Jassim, a Sunni, as defense minister and Shirwan al-Waili, a Shiite, as minister of state for national security (CNN.com).

Iraq

There were four terror bombings in the Baghdad area, two in the north and two in the southeast, killing 35 people (CNN.com).

9 JUNE 2006

Europe, diplomatic affairs

British Prime Minister Tony Blair met French President Jacques Chirac in Paris. They agreed to increase cooperation on nuclear energy (AP).

10 JUNE 2006

Nepal, politics

Parliament ended the King's say in the passage of legislation. It had already taken action to remove the King as the supreme commander of the army (CNN.com).

11 JUNE 2006

Bangladesh

Thousands of people took part in violent anti-government protests in and around Dhaka (AP).

12-13 JUNE 2006

Guinea

There were small but violent anti-government protests in Conakry (AP).

13 JUNE 2006

Diplomatic affairs

US President Bush visited Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad (CNN.com).

Iraq

Five car bomb attacks in Kirkuk killed at least 14 people (CNN.com).

14 JUNE 2006

Somalia

Islamic militias took Jowhar (AP).

Iraq

An operation was begun, led by Maj. Gen. Mahdi al-Gharrawi, to improve security in Baghdad. US President Bush said 26,000 Iraqi troops, 23,000 Iraqi police and about 7,200 US troops were involved.

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr staged a large anti-American demonstration in Baghdad.

Hundreds of Shiites in Basra attacked the Iranian consulate, angered over comments made about Shiite cleric Mahmoud al-Hassani al-Sarkhi on an Iranian TV program (CNN.com).

France

A court convicted 25 people, including Menad and Chellali Benchellali, for their involvement in a terrorist plot. The network was dismantled in two waves of arrests, the first in December 2002 in La Courneuve and Romainville, and the second in January 2004 in Venissieux.1

15 JUNE 2006

Somalia

Islamic militias backed by local clerics surrounded Baladwayne.2

Iraq

Gunmen killed 10 bus passengers in Baquba, and a car bomb in southwest Baghdad killed three (CNN.com).

16 JUNE 2006

Nepal

Government, opposition and Maoist leaders, after talks in Kathmandu, announced their agreement to form an interim government. It will replace the current national parliament and the Maoists' 'people's government' in Maoist-controlled areas, and is to eventually create a new constitution. The accord calls for UN supervision of Nepalese troops and Maoist rebels but makes no mention of disarmament (AP).

Iraq

Mansur Sulayman Mansur Khalif, a senior member of al Qaeda in Iraq also known as Sheikh Mansur, was killed in a coalition airstrike (CNN.com).

17 JUNE 2006

Slovakia, politics

General elections were held. Robert Fico's SMER party won 50 of 150 seats, up from the 25 it won in the September 2002 elections, Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda's Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU-DS) won 31 seats, the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK-MKP) won 20 seats, the Slovak National Party (SNS) won 20 seats, up from 0, the People's Party-Movement for Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS) won 15 seats, down from 36, and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) won 14 seats. Fico has called for reversing Dzurinda's free-market-oriented economic policies (IFES, Reuters).

18 JUNE 2006

Spain

Voters in the semi-autonomous Catalonia region approved a measure giving Catalonia control over tax collection in the region. About 74% voted in favor; turnout was about 50% (CNN.com).

20 JUNE 2006

Liberia

Former president Charles Taylor arrived at The Hague, Netherlands, to stand trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 11 war crimes charges related to the civil war in Sierra Leone (CNN.com).

21-22 JUNE 2006

Iraq

A car bomb attack in Baghdad on the 21st killed two people; the next day a similar attack killed two more (CNN.com).

22 JUNE 2006

United States, military affairs

In a successful test of sea-based ABM technology, the USS Shiloh intercepted a warhead, from a missile fired from Hawaii, about 250 miles off Kauai (CNN.com).

Somalia

Representatives of the interim government and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) met in Khartoum, Sudan. The interim government agreed to recognize the “reality” of the ICU, which in turn recognized the “legality” of the government. The two sides agreed to stop all military and propaganda campaigns.3

23 JUNE 2006

Iraq

A bomb attack in Basra killed two (CNN.com).

25 JUNE 2006

Iraq

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced a 'national reconciliation plan', which included a provision for amnesty for rebels who "have not committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against Iraqis and acts of violence."

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

26 JUNE 2006

East Timor, politics

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resigned under pressure from President Xanana Gusmao and from charges of organizing hit squads against his political enemies, charges he denies (AP).

Iraq

A bomb attack in Baquba killed 18 people; another in Hilla killed six (CNN.com).

27 JUNE 2006

Taiwan, politics

A measure in the 221-seat Legislature to recall President Chen Shui-bian failed to get the required two-thirds majority, with 119 votes in favor; Chen's Democratic Progressive Party boycotted the vote. Members of Chen's family have been accused of illegal financial dealings (AP).

28 JUNE 2006

Peru, economic affairs

The 120-seat Congress ratified a free-trade pact with the US by a 79-14 vote with six abstentions (AP).

28-30 JUNE 2006

Diplomatic affairs

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the US (AP).

28 JUNE-4 JULY 2006

Israel, Gaza Strip

Following the abduction of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants on the 25th, Israeli forces crossed into the southern Gaza Strip on the 28th. On that and following days there were also air strikes, mostly in and around Gaza City and in southern Gaza, against Hamas and al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades targets or targets alleged to be connected to them. This included the Palestinian Authority (PA) Interior Ministry and the office of PA prime minister Ismail Haniya. There were also some arrests of Hamas members of the PA legislature (CNN.com).

29 JUNE 2006

Kuwait, politics

In elections for the 50-seat National Assembly, opposition candidates won nearly two-thirds of the seats. The opposition candidates, many of whom are Islamists, ran on a pro-reform, anti-corruption platform (Reuters).

Iraq

A suicide bomb attack on a funeral in Kirkuk killed four people (AP).

30 JUNE 2006

Belgium, politics

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's ruling coalition collapsed after the withdrawal of the Liberal Democrat party over its displeasure with Immigration Minister Rita Verdonke in general, and with the government's treatment of Somali-born lawmaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali in particular (CNN.com).

Notes

1. “French terror plot: 25 convicted”, AP, 14 June 2006.

2. “Islamists pushing further into Somalia”, Reuters, 16 June 2006.

3. “Pacts eases Somalia tensions”, Reuters, 22 June 2006.