2004 in History

Congress performs strongly in the 2004 general election and leads the formation of the United Progressive Alliance government.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance loses power after the 2004 general election.

Howard Fergus serves a second acting term as Governor

Jeffery Nape serves briefly as acting Governor-General

An African Union report criticises abuses against opposition politicians and lawyers.

Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf agree to resume a structured peace dialogue.

The ANC win a landslide victory

Mujuru becomes Zimbabwe's first woman Vice-President.

al-Bakhit participates in arab summit connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

Coaches Argentina to Olympic football gold after winning every match of the tournament.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is acquitted of treason charges relating to an alleged plot to kill President Mugabe, he still faces a separate treason charge

Hussein is given prisoner-of-war status

Rantissi is assassinated by the Israeli Army after they fire hellfire missiles from an Apache helicopter at his car

Assassinated when an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at him as he was being wheeled to early morning prayers

Ahmed Yassin is killed in an Israeli attack while he was being wheeled out of an early morning prayer session, an Israeli helicopter gunship fires Hellfire missiles at Yassin and both of his bodyguards

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights passes a resolution condemning the killing, supported by votes from 31 countries including the People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa with 2 votes against and 18 abstentions.

The killing provokes widespread condemnation from the international community, Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General, condemns the killing and calls on Israel to halt its policy of assassination.

Wins the first of her two Olympic silver medals.

Makes his competitive first-team debut as a substitute against Espanyol.

After a womans suicide bombing at the Erez crossing, in which Reem Raiyshi detonates herself, Yassin expressed his satisfaction with the execution of the attack

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the US is formed by the US Government, called the 9/11 Commission, concludes the attacks were planned & carried out by al-Qaeda

In an audiotape posted on a website that the US claims is "frequently used by al-Qaeda", bin Laden says he had personally directed the 19 hijackers

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the US is formed by the US Government, called the 9/11 Commission, concludes the attacks were planned & carried out by al-Qaeda

Orders government forces to restore authority after dissident commanders seize Bukavu during renewed eastern fighting.

Bush allows Canada to bid on Iraq contracts

Accepts Prime Minister Atef Ebeid's resignation and appoints Ahmed Nazif to form a government.

Porto defeat Deportivo La Coruna to reach the Champions League final.

Keeps goal as FC Porto win the Champions League final.

Helps FC Porto keep a clean sheet in the final.

Leads FC Porto to a 3-0 victory over Monaco in the UEFA Champions League final.

Begins his Premier League career with a 1-0 Chelsea victory over Manchester United.

The Chemical Weapons Convention enters into force for Libya.

Legislation establishes long-term savings accounts for eligible children.

Leads Chile when its free trade agreement with South Korea enters into force.

Publishes Chronicles Volume One.

Addresses the International Aids Conference

Karzai signs the constitution establishing an Islamic republic with a presidential system and bicameral legislature.

The country is renamed, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The Constitution, having been agreed by heads of Government from the 25 Member States, is signed at a ceremony in Rome

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed in Rome by the governments of the European Union member states.

An interim Government officially takes over from the U.S. occupation authority

An interim Government officially takes over from the U.S. occupation authority

Creates the Public Chamber of Russia & launches an initiative to replace the direct election governors & presidents of Federal subjects of Russia proposed by the President & approved by the legslature

An interim Government officially takes over from the US occupation authority

Chirac joined European leaders in signing the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Libyan officials provide information about foreign suppliers involved in nuclear procurement.

Scores a free kick as Argentina defeat Peru 1-0 in the Copa America quarter-final.

Darby, a soldier, reports US abuses to the Armys Criminal Investigations Division

Darby, a soldier, reports US abuses to the Armys Criminal Investigations Division

Warns of grave humanitarian abuses in Darfur

Hosts celebrations welcoming ten new countries during the largest enlargement in European Union history.

Finishes a counterattack to double Porto's advantage over Monaco.

Obama writes and delivers the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts

Brown, Trujillo and David Rabinowitz discover Orcus, a large resonant trans-Neptunian object with an orbit similar to Pluto's.

Announces a unilateral plan to remove Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip.

British Cycling suspends Millar for two years

Directs Downfall.

Chirac welcomed ten new member states as the European Union completed its largest enlargement.

G. Madhavan Nair leads ISRO when EDUSAT launches as India's first satellite built specifically to support distance education.

Abbas is endorsed by Fatahs Revolutionary Council as its preferred candidate for the Palestinian presidential election

Abbas calls for an end to violence in the Al-Aqsa Intifada and a return to peaceful resistance

Wins the 2nd vote of confidence in Parliament, avoids an election

Blair says would serve third term as Prime Minister if Labour win another general election, but that he would not fight a fourth general election as Labour leader

Bush wins 50.9% of the vote, 31 states & 286 electoral votes

Kerry wins 48.1% od the vote, 19 states & 252 electoral votes

The ANC win a landslide victory

Obama resigns from the Illinois Senate following his election to the US Senate. Obama receives 70% of the vote to Keyess 27%, the largest victory margin for a statewide race in Illinois history

Putin wins the re-election to the presidency for a 2nd term, earning 71 percent of the vote. Putin is elected to the presidency for a 2nd term, receiving 71% of the vote

Creates the Public Chamber of Russia & launches an initiative to replace the direct election governors & presidents of Federal subjects of Russia proposed by the President & approved by the legslature

Visits the Ukraine twice before the election to show his support for Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and congratulated him on his alleged victory before the official election results had been announced

Rice becomes the first National Security Adviser to campaign for an incumbent President

The Fourth David Oddsson Government ends, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Iceland.

The Spidla Government ends in Prague, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Czech Republic.

Allows workers from new EU member states immediate labour market access.

Captains Portugal in the European Championship final against Greece.

Guides the Netherlands to the European Championship semi-final against Portugal.

Signs the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe on behalf of Ireland.

Signs the European Constitutional Treaty for Ireland as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Signs the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe on behalf of Greece.

Signs the European Constitutional Treaty alongside Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.

Helps broker unanimous political agreement on the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

Hosts the Rome ceremony at which the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is signed.

Signs the European Constitutional Treaty alongside Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.

Signs the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe for Germany.

The Constitution, having been agreed by heads of Government from the 25 Member States, is signed at a ceremony in Rome

Wins a European Parliament seat as UKIP expands its national profile.

Leads the Irish EU Presidency as ten new member states join the European Union.

Heads the Italian government when ten new member states join the European Union.

Heads the Greek government when ten new member states join the European Union.

Heads the German government when ten new member states join the European Union in its largest enlargement.

After a womans suicide bombing at the Erez crossing, in which Reem Raiyshi detonates herself, Yassin expressed his satisfaction with the execution of the attack

Makes a final public appearance at a St Pauls Cathedral event connected with Churchill.

Scores the winner against Leicester City as Arsenal complete the Premier League season unbeaten.

The fighting begins repeated rounds of war in Saada.

Appointed Foreign Secretary

Scores four times in Arsenal's 5-0 league victory over Leeds United during the unbeaten title campaign.

Mesa holds a national referendum on the future management of natural gas.

Authorizes major Israeli operations in Gaza during continuing Second Intifada violence.

Scores Porto's opening goal in their 3-0 final victory over Monaco.

Pratibha Patil becomes Governor of Rajasthan.

Appointed Governor of Kirov

Appointed Governor of Bihar.

Deborah Barnes Jones becomes Governor of Montserrat

Paulias Matane becomes Governor-General of Papua New Guinea

Leads the mission launched to test geodetic precession and frame dragging predicted by general relativity.

Releases Greatest Hits, summarising the first phase of his solo career.

Begins the Gross Government in Prague and serves as Prime Minister of Czech Republic.

Begins the Halldor Asgrimsson Government and serves as Prime Minister of Iceland.

Reem Raiyshis suicide bombing at the Erez crossing on 14 January 2004, which killed four civilians, was believed by the Israeli military to have been directly ordered by Yassin

Reem Raiyshis suicide bombing at the Erez crossing on 14 January 2004, which killed four civilians, was believed by the Israeli military to have been directly ordered by Yassin

Rantissi is named leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the killing of Ahmed Yassin by Israeli forces

Rantissi addresses 5,000 supporters in Gaza. He declared US president George W. Bush to be an "enemy of Muslims"

Rantissi addresses 5,000 supporters in Gaza. He declared US president George W. Bush to be an "enemy of Muslims"

Directs Head-On, winner of the Golden Bear at Berlin.

Blair in hospital to correct heart palpitations

Flown to hospital for testing & treatment

Appointed High Commissioners for Human Rights for the United Nations

Bert Trautman is awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, for promoting British-German understanding through football

Beslan school hostage crisis, Russian police and soldiers storm the school, 344 civilians and 31 of 32 hostage-takers are killed

O'Keefe cancels the planned fourth Hubble servicing mission because of shuttle safety concerns following the Columbia disaster.

Astronomers unveil the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, a million-second exposure revealing galaxies seen when the universe was only several hundred million years old.

The enquiry by judge Lord Hutton into Kellys death exonerates Blairs Government of deliberately distorting intelligence to justify war

Illegal for US Citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba under most circumstances without a US Government Office of Foreign Assets Control issued license

Singh's government coordinates large-scale relief operations after the Indian Ocean tsunami devastates coastal communities.

Arafat dies after years of confinement and pressure during the Second Intifada

Libya submits its initial chemical-weapons declaration to the OPCW.

A royal coroner opens an inquest into the deaths of Diana & Dodi Fayed

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain becomes Prime Minister during a short transition.

The International court of Justice (ICJ) rules that the Israeli security barrier violates international law and must be torn down

Abbas calls for an end to violence in the Al-Aqsa Intifada and a return to peaceful resistance

Abbas calls for an end to violence in the Al-Aqsa Intifada and a return to peaceful resistance

Arafat dies after years of confinement and pressure during the Second Intifada

Blix accuses the US and British Governments of dramatising the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, in order to strengthen the case for the 2003 war against the regime of Saddam Hussein

Clinches the Premier League title at Tottenham during Arsenal's unbeaten 2003-04 league campaign.

The IAEA begins verification of Iran's suspension of enrichment-related activities under the Paris Agreement.

The country is renamed, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

The constitution formally names the country the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Tunisia held legislative elections in which the governing party retained a large majority.

The Chemical Weapons Convention enters into force for Libya following its accession the previous month.

Is appointed Liverpool manager after leaving Valencia.

Brown becomes Britain's longest continuously serving Chancellor in modern times.

Appointed manager of Leeds United

Dismissed by Freddy Shepherd, after a poor start to the Premier League season and alleged discontent in the dressing room

Appointed Manager of West Bromwich Albion

Porto score a late equaliser at Old Trafford to eliminate Manchester United from the Champions League.

Appointed Mayor of Houston

MESSENGER launches to begin a complex seven-year journey that will culminate in the first orbital mission around Mercury.

Appointed Minister of the Interior

Appointed Minister of the Interior

Brown surpasses the continuous tenure of other modern Chancellors.

Reunites with Jose Mourinho in the English Premier League.

Receives Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director for Mystic River.

The constitution creates the Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga as the two houses of the National Assembly.

Testifies that there was no concrete evidence to show the 9/11 attack was imminent, the first sitting National Security Adviser to testify on matters of policy

Obama writes and delivers the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts

Promulgates a new civil marriage law that introduces divorce into Chilean law.

Karamanlis becomes Prime Minister after winning the parliamentary election.

Karolos Papoulias is nominated by the governing and opposition parties for the presidency.

A confidential United Nations report is leaked, the report states that all nuclear materials within Iran have been accounted for and there is no evidence of any military nuclear program

Kamal Kharrazi says, "We wont accept any new obligations. Iran has a high technical capability and has to be recognised by the international community as a member of the nuclear club. This is an irreversible path"

Officials declare Pakistani scientists gave Libya technology to build nuclear weapons

Kamal Kharrazi says, "We wont accept any new obligations. Iran has a high technical capability and has to be recognised by the international community as a member of the nuclear club. This is an irreversible path"

Investigators identify Pakistani-linked technology supplied to Libya's former nuclear programme.

Musharraf acknowledges evidence that Pakistani scientists participated in unauthorized nuclear transfers.

Pakistan investigates allegations that nuclear technology was transferred to Libya and other states.

Wiggins is awarded an OBE for services to sport

Scores the only goal as Argentina defeat Paraguay to win their first Olympic football gold medal.

Helps Brazil reach the Olympic women's football final.

Finishes the Olympic football tournament as leading scorer with eight goals during Argentina's gold-medal campaign.

Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee agree to resume a peace dialogue.

Serves as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee, after Yasser Arafats death

Abbas becomes Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee after Arafat's death

Promoted to the shadow cabinet as head of policy coordination.

Appointed High Commissioners for Human Rights for the United Nations

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights passes a resolution condemning the killing, supported by votes from 31 countries including the Peoples Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa with 2 votes against and 18 abstentions

Leads Porto onto the field and lifts the trophy after the victory over Monaco.

Completes an outstanding European campaign as a central defender.

Captains the defensive foundation of Mourinho's European champions.

Leads the host nation through its first major senior final.

Seck leaves the prime ministership after tensions with President Wade

Appointed President of Georgia

Appointed President of the Governing Council

Appointed President of Panama

Appointed President of South Africa, 2nd term

Appointed President of Switzerland

Antonio Saca becomes President after ARENA wins another election

The electoral college vote constitutionally deems Musharraf elected President.

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali won another presidential term.

Wins the presidency after a runoff election.

Afghanistan holds its first direct presidential election, with Karzai receiving a majority.

Karzai is inaugurated as the first elected president under the 2004 Constitution

Is appointed Prime Minister and forms a cabinet emphasizing economic reform.

Kostas Karamanlis is sworn in as Prime Minister after New Democracy wins the election.

Secures the nomination for Prime Minister when President Abdul Kalam officially asks him to form a Government

Manmohan Singh becomes India's fourteenth Prime Minister and the first Sikh to hold the office.

Shaukat Aziz becomes Prime Minister after winning a National Assembly vote.

Appointed Prime Minister of Poland, 2nd term

Tariceanu forms a coalition government after the parliamentary election.

Appointed Prime Minister of Somalia

Macky Sall becomes Prime Minister under President Wade

Soe Win becomes Prime Minister after Khin Nyunt's removal

Creates the Public Chamber of Russia & launches an initiative to replace the direct election governors & presidents of Federal subjects of Russia proposed by the President & approved by the legslature

Release Real Good Looking Boy as new material.

India begins a limited reduction of troop deployments in Jammu and Kashmir during a period of dialogue with Pakistan.

Vajpayee's government holds talks with moderate Kashmiri separatist leaders in New Delhi.

Kamal Kharrazi says, "We wont accept any new obligations. Iran has a high technical capability and has to be recognised by the international community as a member of the nuclear club. This is an irreversible path"

Khin Nyunt is dismissed and placed under arrest

Blair says would serve third term as Prime Minister if Labour win another general election, but that he would not fight a fourth general election as Labour leader

Resigns as Prime Minister with his cabinet after nearly five years in office.

Resigns as Secretary of State

Hashimoto is forced to resign after a scandal, he had accepted a þ100 million check from the Japan Dental Association

Surya Bahadur Thapa quits as Prime Minister after weeks of protests

Jamali resigns as Prime Minister after losing Musharraf's support.

Nastase deposits Romania's instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty.

Basescu wins the presidency after defeating Adrian Nastase.

An interim Government officially takes over from the US occupation authority

Government forces enter conflict with followers of Hussein al-Houthi.

Illegal for US Citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba under most circumstances without a US Government Office of Foreign Assets Control issued license

Hashimoto is forced to resign after a scandal, he had accepted a þ100 million check from the Japan Dental Association

Bush nominates Rice to be Secretary of State

Appointed Minister of Defence

The International court of Justice (ICJ) rules that the Israeli security barrier violates international law and must be torn down

Begins Ireland's sixth Council Presidency with enlargement and constitutional negotiations as central priorities.

Directs Irish diplomatic work during the first half of the 2004 Presidency.

Spitzer records thousands of infrared exposures of M31, mapping warm dust and star-forming structures that are difficult to isolate in visible light.

Student demonstrators attempt to storm the British Embassy

After Arafat dies Abbas becomes a leading candidate to succeed him in Palestinian politics

Reem Raiyshis suicide bombing at the Erez crossing on 14 January 2004, which killed four civilians, was believed by the Israeli military to have been directly ordered by Yassin

Reem Raiyshis suicide bombing at the Erez crossing on 14 January 2004, which killed four civilians, was believed by the Israeli military to have been directly ordered by Yassin

After a womans suicide bombing at the Erez crossing, in which Reem Raiyshi detonates herself, Yassin expressed his satisfaction with the execution of the attack

Voyager 1 crosses the solar-wind termination shock and enters the heliosheath.

Release the compilation Then and Now.

Gaddafi meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair during Libya's diplomatic rehabilitation.

Pasachoff participates in scientific observations of the first transit of Venus visible since 1882.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is acquitted of treason charges relating to an alleged plot to kill President Mugabe, he still faces a separate treason charge

Brazauskas heads Lithuania when the Athens treaty enters into force and Lithuania joins the Union.

Dzurinda heads Slovakia as the 2003 treaty takes effect and the country becomes a European Union member.

Emsis leads Latvia as the country crosses from candidate status into full European Union membership.

Gonzi heads Malta as the accession agreement takes legal effect and the island state joins the Union.

Medgyessy leads Hungary on its first day as an EU member under the 2003 accession treaty.

Miller remains Poland's prime minister as the country enters the European Union on enlargement day.

Papadopoulos serves as Cyprus's president when the accession settlement becomes effective and membership starts.

Parts heads Estonia on the day the Athens treaty takes effect and the country enters the European Union.

Rop leads Slovenia when the accession treaty becomes effective and Slovenian EU membership begins.

Spidla leads the Czech Republic as its accession treaty takes effect and full EU membership begins.

Legal custody of Saddam Hussein passes to the Iraqi interim Government but physical custody remains in American military hands

Goes on trial for war crimes

Saddam Hussein is arraigned before an Iraqi judge on seven preliminary charges

Saddam appears confident and defiant throughout the 46-minute hearing. Alternating between listening to and gesturing at the judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, he questioned the legitimacy of the tribunal set up to try him. He called the court a "play" aimed at Bushs chances of winning the US presidential elections

Saddam appears confident and defiant throughout the 46-minute hearing. Alternating between listening to and gesturing at the judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, he questioned the legitimacy of the tribunal set up to try him. He called the court a "play" aimed at Bushs chances of winning the US presidential elections

Prosecution of Russias richest man, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, President of Yukos oil company, for fraud and tax evasion

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is acquitted of treason charges relating to an alleged plot to kill President Mugabe, he still faces a separate treason charge

Receives Council call for Israel to respect humanitarian obligations in Gaza

Blix accuses the US and British Governments of dramatising the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, in order to strengthen the case for the 2003 war against the regime of Saddam Hussein

Sonia Gandhi is chosen to lead the United Progressive Alliance after the 2004 general election.

Recommends the noted economist Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister's post

Manmohan Singh forms the first United Progressive Alliance government after the 2004 general election.

The EU makes a proposal to provide civilian nuclear technology to Iran in exchange for Iran terminating its uranium enrichment programmemememe permanently, Iran rejects this outright saying it will not renounce its right to en

Iran declares that it will voluntarily suspend its uranium enrichment programmemememe to enter negotiations with the EU, Iran will review its decision in three months but the EU seeks to have the suspension made permanent

Talks between Iran and three EU members, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, result in a compromise.

The EU makes a proposal to provide civilian nuclear technology to Iran in exchange for Iran terminating its uranium enrichment programmemememe permanently, Iran rejects this outright saying it will not renounce its right to en

Iran declares that it will voluntarily suspend its uranium enrichment programmemememe to enter negotiations with the EU, Iran will review its decision in three months but the EU seeks to have the suspension made permanent

Talks between Iran and three EU members, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, result in a compromise.

Appointed Vice President of Switzerland

Loses the 1st vote of confidence in Parliament

Wins the 2nd vote of confidence in Parliament, avoids an election

Musharraf receives a vote of confidence from the federal and provincial electoral college.

Blix accuses the US and British Governments of dramatising the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, in order to strengthen the case for the 2003 war against the regime of Saddam Hussein

UN Resolution 1540 recognizes the threat posed to international peace and security by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, It calls upon greater effort by nations to limit proliferation of such weapons

Breaks the indoor 5,000 metres world record in Birmingham.

At the December 2004 five-year conference, Joyce Mujuru, a Zezeru Shona like Mugabe and whose husband Solomon Mujuru is the retired head of the armed forces, is elevated to the post of vice-president of the party (first woman to hold that office)

Rantissi is assassinated by the Israeli Army after they fire hellfire missiles from an Apache helicopter at his car

Abdel Aziz Rantisi is announced as the new head of Hamas

200,000 Palestinians attend his funeral procession

Ahmed Yassin is killed in an Israeli attack while he was being wheeled out of an early morning prayer session, an Israeli helicopter gunship fires Hellfire missiles at Yassin and both of his bodyguards

The enquiry by judge Lord Hutton into Kellys death exonerates Blairs Government of deliberately distorting intelligence to justify war

Death of Anthony Meyer

Death of Bill Nicholson

Death of Brian Clough

Death of Christopher Reeve

Death of George Hardwick

Death of Marlon Brando

Death of Peter Ustinov

Death of Ronald Reagan

Death of Yasser Arafat

Dies after years of siege and declining authority during the Second Intifada.

Death of Yasser Arafat