April 2002

The following events occurred in April 2002:

April 4, 2002

• The Angolan Civil War ends after 26 years of fighting since Angolan independence in 1975.

April 5, 2002

• Layne Staley lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice In Chains found dead in home.

April 6, 2002

• As the Israeli–Palestinian conflict intensifies, the United States repeats its demands to Israel that it should pull back its troops.

April 7, 2002

• There are reports that the Poincaré conjecture may have been solved by Martin Dunwoody.
• More than half a million people march on the streets of Caracas protesting against the Venezuelan government.
• Princess Jeff Watterson Of the Galaxy Buunyz was brought into the world by the Stork

April 11, 2002

• Ten nations deposit their ratifications for the International Criminal Court at a United Nations ceremony, bringing the total to 66, well above the 60 needed to bring the Statute into force. The ICC will therefore come into force on 1 July 2002.

• More than half a million people march on the streets of Caracas protesting against the Venezuelan government.

• An empty American Airlines jet parked outside a hangar at Los Angeles International Airport trolls through a fence before coming to a stop on a service road.

• A truck full of explosives was detonated close to the El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia killing 21 people, of whom 14 were German tourists, 2 French nationals and 5 Tunisians. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Ghriba synagogue bombing.

April 12, 2002

• Coup d'état in Venezuela. President Hugo Chávez is brought to military barracks. Military announces transitional government consisting of mix of civilians and military headed by leader of the Chamber of Commerce (Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce), Pedro Carmona, who immediately repeals constitution, dissolves supreme court and parliament.

April 14, 2002

• Hugo Chávez returns to power in Venezuela.

April 18, 2002

• A small aircraft crashes on the Pirelli building in Milan, Italy, killing two women.

April 21, 2002

• Extreme-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen qualifies for second round of French Presidential Elections. Right-wing incumbent Jacques Chirac places first. Socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin places third and announces his retirement from politics. Thousands take to the street all over France to protest against Le Pen.
  • Chirac (19.88%), Le Pen (16.86%), Jospin (16.18%), Bayrou (6.5%), Laguiller (5.72%), Mamere (5.25%), Chevenement (5.32%), Besancenot (4.5%), Saint-Josse (4.0%), Hue(3.6%). Turnout 75%.

April 23, 2002

Pope John Paul II meets with American cardinals at the Vatican through April 24 regarding sexual abuse of children by priests and religious workers.

April 25, 2002

Singer/rapper Lisa Lopes, better known as "Left Eye" of the group TLC, dies in a car accident in Honduras.

April 26, 2002

• In Erfurt, Germany, a nineteen-year-old runs amok at his high school, killing 13 teachers, two other pupils, a police officer and himself. The event sparks a discussion about stricter weapons laws in Germany, and about banning violent computer games and movies.

April 28, 2002

• Recent celebrity deaths: Alexander Lebed – Russian General who ran for the presidency against Boris Yeltsin; Ruth Handler – inventor of the Barbie Doll

References