December 12, 2004

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] December 12, 2004

• According to the Washington Post the Bush administration used wire taps to intercept a number of phone conversations of Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency in hope of finding information that would help remove ElBaradei from his post. (CNN) (The Washington Post)
• Israeli-Palestinian conflict
  • At least 5 Israeli soldiers are killed and 10 are injured as a tunnel rigged with 1500 kg of explosives exploded near the Rafah crossing between Rafah and Egypt. Hamas and an al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades' offshoot called "Fatah Hawk" claimed joint responsibility. (Haaretz) (CNN)
  • 5 Palestinian schoolchildren were wounded, receiving shrapnel wounds from Israeli Tank Fire. (Ha'Aretz)
• Jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti withdraws his nomination in the Palestinian presidential election just ten days after announcing his candidacy, and instead endorses Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas. (BBC)
• Romania presidential run-off: Exit polls show that the difference between the two candidates (Traian Băsescu and Adrian Năstase) is very small, estimated at less than 0.01%. (BBC)
• 2004 U.S. presidential election controversy:
  • The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary will be holding a congressional forum in Columbus concerning new evidence of election irregularities and fraud in Ohio, the issue of Ohio electors meeting while recounts and litigation are pending, and to discuss legislative and other responses to the problems, on Dec. 13. (pdf)
  • The Civil Rights Coalition schedules a protest for Dec. 18, demanding a re-vote in "areas where substantive disenfranchisement took place" and the prosecution of officials involved in "election fraud." (Civil Rights Coalition)
• A bomb blast in a General Santos City, Philippines, supermarket leaves at least 58 people injured and 15 dead.(AOL news)