MAY 2006

Somalia

Early in the month there was fighting in Mogadishu between the Islamic Court Union and the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter Terrorism (AP).

1 MAY 2006

Bolivia, economic affairs

President Evo Morales decreed the nationalization of the natural gas industry, saying, "The time has come, the awaited day, a historic day in which Bolivia retakes absolute control of our natural resources". He sent troops and police to gas installations and offices of foreign gas companies. Morales said foreign companies must turn over most production control to Bolivia's state-owned oil company, Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), and that they could be stripped of the priviledge of operating in Bolivia if they don't sign new contracts within six months.

YPFB handled all production until privatization in the mid-1990s. Experts have said that YPFB is incapable of becoming a producer again without a massive infusion of cash, and Morales has said that nationalization would not mean a complete state takeover (AP).

United States

There were demonstrations across the country against proposed legislation which would crack down on illegal immigration. There were protests of about 400,000 in Los Angeles, 300,000 in Chicago and 55,000 in San Fransisco. There were also protests in many other cities which were generally much smaller (CNN.com).

5 MAY 2006

Sudan

The government and the largest of the rebel groups in the Darfur region, the Sudan Liberation Movement, signed a peace agreement at talks in Abuja, Nigeria. Provisions reportedly include the disbanding of Janjawid militias and integration of rebels into the armed forces.1 A splinter faction of the SLM and the Justice and Equality Movement rebels refused to sign (AP).

6 MAY 2006

Singapore, politics

In parliamentary elections Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's People's Action Party (PAP) once again won 82 of 84 seats, though the PAP's percentage of the vote dropped to 66.6% from the 75.3% it had in the November 2001 elections (AP, IFES).

6-13 MAY 2006

Fiji, politics

In parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party narrowly defeated Mahendra Chaudhry's Fiji Labour Party (AP).

7 MAY 2006

Iraq

A car bomb in Karbala killed at least five people (CNN.com).

8 MAY 2006

Thailand, politics

The Constitutional Court ruled that the 2 April elections were invalid and that new elections would have to be held (CNN.com).

Iraq

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

9 MAY 2006

Egypt

Nasser Khamis el-Mallahi, leader of the Tawhid wal Jihad (Unity and Holy War) terrorist group, was killed in a gunbattle with security forces near Al-Arish. Egyptian authorities blame Tawhid wal Jihad for the April bombings in Tahab as well as the July 2005 attacks in Sharm El-Sheikh and the October 2004 attacks on the Taba area (CNN.com).

Iraq

A suicide car bombing in Tal Afar killed 20 people (CNN.com).

12 MAY 2006

Sri Lanka

There was an attack by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) rebels on a naval convoy off the northern coast. The navy said one of its fast-attack boats was destroyed by a rebel suicide boat, and that five of the 15 small rebel boats were sunk (AP).

Democratic Republic of Congo

A prominent leader of the Mai Mai militia in Katanga province, Kyungu Mutanga (also known as Commander Gedeon), agreed to disarm along with some militia members (Reuters).

12-15 MAY 2006

Brazil

There was a wave of attacks on police stations and other targets in São Paulo state, as well as uprisings in 65 of the state's 74 prisons. Authorities blamed the First Capital Command (PCC) criminal gang (CNN.com, Reuters).

14 MAY 2006

Iraq

Among several bomb attacks in Baghdad, there were two which appeared to target civilians, killing 17 (CNN.com).

15 MAY 2006

Afghanistan

Operation Mountain Thrust began. This was an effort to extend Afghan government presence into the southern provinces, prepare for the NATO ISAF deployment in the south (see 26 January 2006), and disrupt Taliban operations. The major ground operations phase was planned to begin in mid-June. About 2,300 US, 3,300 British, 2,200 Canadian and 3,500 Afghan troops with air support were to put pressure on the Taliban in Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces. A significant component of Mountain Thrust was to be construction projects and humanitarian work.

In late July or early August it was planned for ISAF to take command in Afghanistan from the US-led coalition. ISAF was to have some 6,000 troops stationed permanently in the south, about double what the coalition had in the area in recent years.2

Diplomatic affairs

The US announced that it was reestablishing full diplomatic relations with Libya, that it was immediately removing Libya from an annual list of countries that do not cooperate with US anti-terrorism efforts, and that it would remove the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after a 45-day waiting period. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, "Today's announcements are tangible results that flow from the historic decisions taken by Libya's leadership in 2003 to renounce terrorism and to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs" (CNN.com).

16 MAY 2006

Dominican Republic

In parliamentary elections, President Leonel Fernandez's Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) won about two-thirds of seats in both the Senate and the House, a major improvement over its previous position (Reuters).

Iraq

A shooting and car bombing of a garage in northeast Baghdad killed 23 people (CNN.com).

17 MAY 2006

Brazil

Pablo Rayo-Montano was arrested at his residence in São Paulo. The US, Brazil, Colombia and Panama recently wrapped up Operation Twin Oceans, a three-year effort which the US says dismantled the Rayo-Montano cocaine cartel (CNN.com).

20 MAY 2006

Iraq, politics

Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki's new government was approved by parliament. However, it did not include defense, interior and national security ministers. Al-Maliki said he would temporarily run Interior. Deputy Prime Minister-designate Salam al-Zawbai was temporarily appointed defense minister. Minister of state for national security would be temporarily overseen by Deputy Prime Minister-designate Barham Salih (CNN.com).

Israel, Gaza Strip

An Israeli airstrike killed senior Islamic Jihad militant Mohammed Al Dahdouh (CNN.com).

Iraq

A roadside bomb killed 22 people in the Sadr City area of Baghdad (CNN.com).

21 MAY 2006

Serbia and Montenegro

Montenegro voted on independence. According to election authorities the result was 55.4% in favor and 44.6% against; 55% was the threshold required for independence. Turnout was 86.3%. The next day, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said his priorities were to move the new country toward membership in the EU and NATO (CNN.com).

Kuwait, politics

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved parliament over a dispute involving electoral reform and called new elections for 29 June (Reuters).

Iraq

Three terror bomb attacks in Baghdad killed at least 17 people (CNN.com).

22 MAY 2006

Israel, Gaza Strip

There was a gun battle between Hamas militants and Palestinian police around the parliament building in Gaza City (CNN.com).

Iraq

A car bomb in southeast Baghdad killed at least three people (CNN.com).

23 MAY 2006

Thailand, politics

Thaksin Shinawatra resumed duties as Prime Minister (AP).

Diplomatic affairs

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met President Bush in Washington. Afterwards, Bush said, "I told the prime minister what I've stated publicly before: Israel is a close friend and ally of the United States. And in the event of any attack on Israel, the United States will come to Israel's aid" (CNN.com).

23 MAY-3 JUNE 2006

East Timor

Civil strife increased sharply, resulting in the deployment of foreign forces.

In March, 600 soldiers – about half of the army – was fired after striking over alleged discrimination. The soldiers were largely from the western part of the country while the military leadership is mostly from the east, which more strongly favored independence from Indonesia. In April the soldiers engaged in riots, then fled Dili, took up positions around the capital and threatened guerilla war if they were not reinstated.

On 23 May they attacked Dili. On the 25th, responding to a request by President Xanana Gusmao, Australia began deploying a contingent of 1,300 troops to the capital. By the 28th, rival gangs were fighting street battles in Dili, attacking people and destroying property. On the 30th the defense and interior ministers were fired and President Xanana Gusmao announced he was assuming “sole responsibility” for the country's national security. On 3 June foreign minister Ramos Horta took over as defense minister and Alcino Barris became interior minister.

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has been heavily criticized for the March firing and other problems. But he claims his political opponents are fomenting the unrest to overthrow his government. Brig. Mick Slater, commander of the Australian peacekeeping force, said on 2 June that there were signs that some of the violence was being coordinated (AP, CNN.com).

24 MAY 2006

United States, military affairs

In a successful ABM test, a missile fired from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai was destroyed in the final stage of its flight by a SM-2 SAM from the USS Lake Erie. It was the first time the SM-2 intercepted a ballistic missile in the final stage of flight rather than in the early or middle stage (AP).

Israel, Gaza Strip

Nabil Hodhod, head of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Preventive Security Service in central Gaza, was killed by a car bomb (AP).

28 MAY 2006

Colombia, politics

President Alvaro Uribe was reelected with 62.2% of the vote. Senator Carlos Gaviria of the Alternative Democratic Pole party won 22.0% and the Liberal Party's Horacio Serpa won 11.8%. Turnout was 45.1% (www.rulers.org, AP).

29 MAY 2006

Iraq

The government announced it had captured Ahmed Hussein Dabash Samir al-Batawi, who officials claim was involved in the March 2004 bombing of Karbala which killed over 140 people.

Iraq

A car bomb in a Sunni area of Baghdad killed five people (CNN.com).

30 MAY 2006

Iraq

A car bomb in a Shi'ite area of Baghdad killed 22 people; another bomb attack in southeast Baghdad killed nine. A car bomb in Hilla killed 12 (CNN.com).

31 MAY 2006

Lithuania, politics

Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas announced his government would step down after Labor withdrew from the ruling coalition (Reuters).

Notes

1. “Darfur peace deal brings new hope”, CNN.com, 5 May 2006.

2. “11,000 troops in Taliban push”, AP, 14 June 2006.