1 OCTOBER 2006

Lebanon

Israeli military forces completed their withdrawal from the country (CNN.com).

Thailand

Retired army Gen. Surayud Chulanont was sworn in as interim prime minister. Surayud said, "It was injustice that caused problems in politics and the south....I urge everybody to help solve the two problems and unity is needed to deal with them." In economic policy, he said he would pursue the well-being of the people more than maximizing economic growth. Surayud announced that political leaders detained during the coup had been released.

Also, an interim constitution, approved by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was announced. It provides the coup leaders with considerable powers including the power to remove Surayud and his cabinet, and provides them with “complete immunity” for overthrowing the government.

Elections are to be held in October 2007 (AP).

Brazil, politics

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held. In the first round of the presidential election, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won 48.6%; Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) won 41.6%; turnout was 83.2%. A runoff was scheduled for 29 October. In parliament, the results for the 513-seat Chamber of Deputies were as follows:

In the Senate 27 of the 81 seats were at stake; the result was that in the new Senate the PFL had 18 seats, the PSDB had 16 (up from 11), the PMDB had 15 (down from 19) and the PT had 11 (down from 14) (www.rulers.org, IFES, AP).

Bosnia and Herzegovina, politics

Elections were held. In the three-member Presidency, Haris Silajdzic of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina (SBiH) won the Bosnian seat, Zeljko Komsic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won the Croat seat and Nebojsa Radmanovic of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) won the Serb seat. In the National House of Representatives the largest winners were the Democratic Action Party (SDA), SBiH, SNSD and SDP. In elections for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the SDA won 28 of 98 seats, the SBiH won 24 and the SDP won 17. In the Republika Srpska the SNSD won 41 of 82 seats. Turnout was 54.8% (www.rulers.com, IFES).

Israel, Gaza Strip

A anti-government demonstration in Gaza by PA police turned into violent clashes with Hamas forces (CNN.com).

4 OCTOBER 2006

United States, foreign policy

Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill said, "We are not going to live with a nuclear North Korea....We are not going to accept it." (CNN.com).

7 OCTOBER 2006

Latvia, politics

The ruling coalition narrowly won general elections for the 100-seat Saeima. Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis's People's Party (TP) won 23 seats, the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) won 18 seats, up from 12, and the First Party of Latvia (LPP) and Latvian Way (LC) coalition won 10 seats, for a total of 51. Among the opposition, the New Era Party (JL) won 18 seats, down from 26, and the new Harmony Centre (SC) alliance won 17 seats. Turnout was 62.2% (www.rulers.org, IFES, AP).

7-8 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

There were anti-insurgent raids by Iraqi and US forces in Diwaniya (CNN.com).

8 OCTOBER 2006

Asia and the Pacific, diplomatic affairs

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing. The two publicly expressed their desire to improve China-Japan relations, persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, and cooperate on issues related to the East China Sea (AP).

9 OCTOBER 2006

North Korea, military affairs

There was an apparent test of a small nuclear explosive device near Kilju. International criticism of the test was widespread. On 8 December, Bush signed a Presidential Determination saying that North Korea did test a nuclear device (CNN.com).

Somalia

Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Ahmed said, "Starting from today, we have declared jihad against Ethiopia." The Islamists were saying that strong Ethiopian forces were in Somalia and operating against them on behalf of Somalia's interim government. Ethiopia had been saying it had only sent advisors into the country (Reuters).

Iraq

Gunmen killed Gen. Amer al-Hashimi at his home in Baghdad.

A car bomb in northeastern Baghdad killed seven people (CNN.com).

Thailand, politics

Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's new cabinet was announced. It included Pridiyathorn Devakula as finance minister, Nitya Pibulsongkram as foreign minister and retired Gen. Bunrod Somtad as defense minister (AP).

10 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

A bomb in southern Baghdad killed ten people (CNN.com).

11 OCTOBER 2006

Japan, foreign policy

The government, in response to North Korea's apparent nuclear test, banned North Korean imports and prohibited the North's ships from entering Japanese ports (CNN.com).

Sri Lanka

There were sharp clashes between government and LTTE forces on the Jaffna peninsula (AP).

12 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

Two bombs killed five people in central Baghdad. Also, gunmen attacked the Shaabiya satellite TV station (CNN.com).

13 OCTOBER 2006

Peru

Shining Path founder Abimael Guzman was convicted of aggravated terrorism and sentenced to life imprisonment. His second-in-command, Elena Iparraguirre, also received a life sentence (AP).

Diplomatic affairs

The UN General Assembly appointed South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon to succeed Kofi Annan as Secretary General on 1 January 2007 (CNN.com).

14 OCTOBER 2006

Diplomatic affairs, North Korea

The UN Security Council unanimously approved sanctions against North Korea in response to its apparent nuclear test. UNSC 1718 demanded that North Korea return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to the Six Party talks on its nuclear weapons program. It said UN members “shall prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK, through their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft” of major weapon systems and “all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology...which could contribute to DPRK's nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programs”. It also said that “all Member States shall prohibit the procurement of such items from the DPRK by their nationals, or using their flagged vessels or aircraft...” The resolution also prohibited the supply of “luxury goods” to North Korea (Reuters, CNN.com).

Iraq

The Interior Ministry announced a leadership shake-up and said it had fired 3,000 employees since May, most of them for corruption and human rights violations (CNN.com).

15 OCTOBER 2006

Ecuador, politics

Elections were held. In the presidential race Alvaro Noboa and Rafael Correa were the two biggest vote-getters with 26.8% and 22.8% of the vote respectively; a runoff was scheduled for 26 November. In parliament, Noboa's National Action Institutional Renewal Party (PRIAN) won 28 of 100 seats, up from the 10 it won in the October 2002 elections, the Patriotic Society Party (PSP) won 23, up from 9, the Social Christian Party won 13, down from 25, and the Democratic Left party (ID) won 13 (www.rulers.org, IFES).

Iraq

Six car bombs in Kirkuk killed at least eight people (CNN.com).

19 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

An attack on an outdoor market in Khalis killed seven people (CNN.com).

19-20 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

There were clashes between army and police forces and the Mehdi Army militia in Amara. It appeared that a few hundred militia attacked police stations on the 19th and that army reinforcements and police restored the situation the following day (CNN.com).

21 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

According to authorities a bomb attack on a market in Mahmoudiya killed at least 18 people (CNN.com).

22 OCTOBER 2006

Panama

In a referendum on a plan for expansion of the Panama Canal, about 78% voted 'yes'; turnout was 43% (AP).

22-29 OCTOBER 2006

Bulgaria, politics

In a presidential election, President Georgi Parvanov easily beat rivals including Volen Siderov, but turnout was below the 50% required for a first-round victory and a runoff was required. In the runoff on the 29th Parvanov beat Siderov 75.9% to 24.1%; turnout was 41.2% (www.rulers.org).

23 OCTOBER 2006

Israel, politics

The Yisrael Beiteinu party joined the government. The addition of that party's 11 seats gave Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition control of 78 of parliament's 120 seats (AP).

Hungary

There was an anti-government rally in Budapest estimated by state media to number 100,000 people. Some of the protestors clashed with police (Reuters).

24 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

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

26 OCTOBER 2006

Diplomatic affairs

French President Jacques Chirac met Chinese President Hu Jintao and other top officials in Beijing (Reuters).

27-29 OCTOBER 2006

Bangladesh

On the 27th and 28th there was violence in several cities between government supporters and opponents in connection with the failure of political parties to agree on a caretaker government in advance of planned elections in January 2007. On the 29th President Iajuddin Ahmed took over as head of the interim government (Reuters, AP).

29 OCTOBER 2006

Democratic Republic of Congo, politics

The presidential runoff was held on the 29th. On 15 November election authorities said President Kabila had defeated Vice President Bemba by a 58% to 42% margin; turnout was 65.4% (AP, www.rulers.org).

30 OCTOBER 2006

Pakistan

There was an airstrike on a madrassa near Damadola in Chingai; the government said that its initial estimate was that about 80 suspected militants from Pakistan and other countries were killed. Opposition political leaders and locals said those killed were innocent people, and some charged that US aircraft were involved. The government said there was no US involvement and that the attack was launched after those in charge of the building refused warnings to close it down.1

Britain, environmental policy

The government released a report by Nicholas Stern saying that global warming could, if left unchecked, cause major disruption of economic activity “later in this century and in the next”, but that the costs of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change can be limited to one percent of the world's annual GDP (CNN.com).

31 OCTOBER 2006

Iraq

Two car bombs in Baghdad killed 18 civilians (CNN.com).

Notes

1. “Islamic leaders call for protest after school is attacked”, AP, 30 October 2006.