SENTIDO > DAILY INTERCEPT > NEWS BRIEF ARCHIVE > MARCH 2004

31 March: 4 civilian contractors killed in Fallujah, bodies desecrated by insurgent mob... ANWR drilling pulled from controversial oil-friendly Energy Bill; OPEC announces cut in production...

30 March: Argentina convicts 2 men of stealing babies from victims of political violence under juntas of 1976-83; estimated 30,000 people were kidnapped or killed... Bush reverses position on sworn testimony, permits Rice public sworn testimony, arranges to keep own testimony unsworn, secret... Bolivian miner blows himself up on parliament steps... Karzai, UN, World Bank urge massive aid to keep Afghanistan from collapse into chaos... Broadcast legend Alistair Cooke died today at the age of 95; Cooke addressed Congress at its bicentennial and was mourned by Tony Blair as bringing "an enormous amount of insight and understanding to the world"...

29 March: NATO expands to 26, adding Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria... Hamid Karzai postpones Afghan elections till September; Taliban reportedly claims terror victory... Ireland imposes universal workplace smoking ban, including pubs, nightclubs...

28 March: Israeli prosecutor formally recommends indictment of PM for alleged bribery in 1990s... Rwanda's 2nd wave: genocide suspects released from prison suspected for threatening, killing witnesses; 30K to be released by June, tried in 'community courts'... NASA X-43A reaches 5,000 mph (Mach 7), first for 'air-breathing' jet...

27 March: Frist seeks to aid Bush by smearing Clarke credibility... Kerry unveils plan to create 10 million new jobs... Condoleeza Rice expected to appear in private meeting with 9/11 Commission to clarify contradictions in prior statements... Barcelona Ajuntament to vote on 240,000-signature animal rights petition to end bullfighting...

26 March: Spain announces two more arrests for 11-M bombings... Connecticut declares state of emergency after tanker truck explodes, destroying stretch of I-95... French police arrest suspects in train-bomb extortion threat... Bremer says US will maintain full military control of Iraq after transition to Iraqi rule...

24 March: Reports of Israeli navy firing on Gaza, tanks in refugee camp, protests, violence escalating...

23 March: 1st televised 9/11 Commission hearings raise criticism of dismissive treatment of threat during 1st 9 months of 2001... Hamas names interim leader, vows ceaseless war; Sharon government plans to assassinate all Hamas leaders... 1 Oregon county halts granting of all marriage licenses, pending court ruling on same-sex marriage...

22 March: Israel assassinates Hamas founder, spiritual-leader; tens of thousands take to Gaza streets in protest; CNN reports attacks on nearby settlement; Palestinian PM says attack opens door to chaos... Secular government defeats fundamentalist opposition in Malaysian elections... Elías Saca (from governing AReNa) claims victory in El Salvador, as opposition refutes victory... Pakistani journalist reports Al-Zawahiri claims to have suitcase nukes... US House Ethics Committee will investigate bribery charges related to Medicare Prescription Drug bill...

21 March: Attempted assassination of Taiwan's president spawns conspiracy theories; no answers to who was responsible... Chen wins reelection; opposition protests sympathy from assassination attempt... Tens of thousands march in NY to protest Iraq occupation (estimates run to 100,000); others join in 250 cities around US; Rome demonstration upward of 300,000...

20 March: Pakistan reports detention of 100 Al Qaeda suspects, soldiers... Scientists discover ancient pollution residues in French peat bog...

19 March: Taiwan's president and vice-president (who have hinted at Independence vote) wounded by gunfire in assassination attempt, while campaigning; both survive... Romania's Siret River (Danube tributary) tainted with cyanide... Evidence of mass insect extinction revives fears of global species depletion...

18 March: Spanish authorities arrest 4 more suspects, look into involvement of one in last year's Casablanca bombing... Pentagon announces it will not pay $300 million in suspected overcharges to Halliburton... Justice Scalia issues memo explaining refusal to withdraw from Cheney case... ABC TV reports Catholic women now forced to wear headscarf for fear of violence, in southern Iraq...

17 March: Major bomb blast guts hotel in downtown Baghdad, 27 killed... PSOE says it will support increased Catalán autonomy, in accordance with Constitution... Gas blast in Russia kills 46; authorities suspect accidental leakage...

16 March: Spanish police identify 6 Moroccan suspects in last week's bombing; death toll rises to 201; new reports indicate government was warned of presence of suspect Zougam... Putin's Russia steeped in KGB ties: BBC reports under Gorbechev, 4% of government had KGB, intel ties; under Putin, among highest ranks, figure now 58%... 6 missionaries killed in Iraq; reports today of women's rights threatened in Iraq... Aristide arrived yesterday in Jamaica for 6 week visit; new Haitian government calls visit "hostile"...

15 March: Scientists announce possible discovery of 10th planet: Sedna (named for Inuit goddess) is 3x further than Pluto, frozen... Vladimir Putin wins 2nd term as Russian President, with more than 70% of the vote; international observers say election doesn't meet democratic standards... Pascal Maragall tells BBC of Catalans, "We are all Madrileños"...

14 March: A new videotape claims Al Qaeda responsibility for Thursday's train bombings in Madrid; death toll rises to 200; PSOE declares victory in Spanish elections, upsetting incumbent PP... McLaughlin Group calculation shows Kerry winning Electoral College, according to current polling trends... Condoleeza Rice reiterates denial that Aristide resignation was coerced, reiterates claim that Iraq was greater threat than North Korea...

13 March: 5 detained, questioned in Spain bombing investigation (3 Moroccans, 2 Spaniards of Indian origin), linked to cell-phone detonator found in unexploded backpack; thousands gather at ruling party HQ to protest investigation, demand answers, openness, rally for peace; national elections tomorrow... Thousands rally in S. Korea in support of President Roh Moo-Hyun... Jamaica will host Aristide for 10-week visit... Kerry wants monthly debates with Bush; Bush camp dismisses request as part of a negative campaign...

12 March: Millions gather across Spain, packing city centers, lining streets, stopping work, to mourn, protest bombings; ETA denies responsibility... S. Korean parliament votes to impeach President; supporters throw furniture, papers, amid mayhem on Assembly floor; thousands demonstrate against removal... CA Supreme Court orders suspension of same-sex marriage license issuance in SF; MA Legislature passes preliminary bill to amend state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage; Nyack, NY, mayor sues for same-sex marriage rights... ACLU criticizes Justice Dept. for extraconstitutional monitoring of protected First Amendment activities...

11 March: 10 explosions hit Madrid trains, train stations: 186 killed, government initially blames ETA, vows retaliation; by afternoon, Al Qaeda claims responsibility... UK frees 5 former Guantánamo detainees, will not charge them... MPs, diplomats, advocates meet in Paris to discuss international "domestic slavery" among migrants... "No Fear" group finds zero Federal enforcement of 2002 anti-discrimination law protecting Federal employees, spreading harassment, verbal abuse... Sen. Trent Lott announced in Commerce Committee hearings he will no longer support ban on re-importation of inexpensive drugs...

10 March: Vladimir Putin has selected a cabinet for his second term, in advance of elections... EPI reports renewed concern over China's dwindling grain harvest... RNC moves to block ads critical of President... NJ Att Gen threatens to prosecute for same-sex marriage licenses... Haitian PM declares he will move to reestablish military disbanded by Aristide...

9 March: Rep. Wexler of Florida is suing to require voter verified paper trail for electronic balloting... Florida may be instrumental in 2004; poll shows Kerry leading Bush by 6% in brother's state... UN, African governments meet to establish framework for "repatriation and reintegration" of millions of refugees...

8 March: Iraqi Governing Council adopts interim constitution, with minority rights, independent judiciary, torture ban; shi'a leader expresses continuing reservations... Women demonstrating for women's rights clubbed and beaten in Iran... Asbury Park, NJ, marries same-sex couple, citing Constitutional right to equal treatment (NJ has no law banning same-sex marriage)... British families demand answers about relatives held at Guantánamo Bay (4 alleged to have ties to prominent terrorists); 5 Britons will be released to UK custody... Aristide reiterates charge he was kidnapped, calls for "peaceful resistance"...

7 March: 10 blasts near Baghdad 'Green Zone'; 3 to 5 shells strike Al Rashid Hotel... Grand Jury requests phone records from Air Force One in CIA name leak case...

5 March: Iraqi Interim Constitution on hold, due to last-minute shi'a demands... New poll shows Kerry, Bush even, with Nader at 6%... NYC Mayor Bloomberg says state should lift ban on same-sex marriage... Environmental impact study shows 2 GM crops to pose danger to wildlife; 1 crop showed softer impact...

4 March: NY prosecutes New Paltz mayor for same-sex marriages; Spitzer says NY ban may be constitutionally untenable; NP mayor, fellow upstate mayor vow to defy ban... Serious computer glitches extinguish or impede votes across US in primary votes... Carribean Community refuses to join Haiti peacekeepers until full investigation of Aristide's departure...

3 March: Scientists discover minerals, formations which indicate water was present on Mars... US House moves to pass bill to outsource processing and review of patent and trademark applications, a Constitutional responsibility... John Kerry calls for investigation into events surrounding Aristide's removal from Haiti...

2 March: Kerry now presumptive Dem nominee for president; Edwards departs race; Dean wins home state of VT by wide margin... Members of Congress call for immediate investigation into situation surrounding Aristide's departure from Haiti; Rep. Meek tells House 12 Aristide supporters were summarily executed by rebels on Monday; Philippe indicates he will not lay down arms, threatens to arrest PM, other officials; looters reportedly raid museum in capital...

1 March: Chemical tanker explodes off VA coast, 18 missing, environmental impact uncertain... Iraq Interim Governing Council issues draft of interim constitution... 200 years, no peaceful transitions: allegations spread that Aristide was forced from power...