April 26, 2004

Encyclopedia : A : AP : APR : April 26, 2004

See also: April 25, 2004 - April 2004 - April 27, 2004

In an open letter to Tony Blair, fifty-two former high ranking British diplomats, including former ambassadors to Iraq and Israel, condemn the Prime Minister's foreign policy stance in the Middle East as "doomed to failure". They also condemn George W. Bush's recent endorsement of Ariel Sharon's offer to withdraw settlers from the Gaza strip while leaving some in the West Bank as "one-sided and illegal and which will cost yet more Israeli and Palestinian blood". [(BBC)]
Indian elections: the second phase of elections in the world's largest democracy takes place. Many key states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar vote; exit polls favour the opposition [(BBC)]
The design of the new U.S. fifty dollar bill is announced. [(U.S. Treasury)] [(IHT)] [(CNN)]
Authorities in Jordan announce that they have broken up an attempt to set off massive explosions in Amman, possibly including the release of toxic chemicals. Alleged targets include the office of the Prime Minister, Jordanian intelligence headquarters, and the US embassy. The plot is attributed to Al Qaida operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. [(CNN)]
Three Irishmen arrested in Colombia in August 2001 on charges of training Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels are acquitted. [(BBC)]
Hong Kong's democracy movement suffers a setback as the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress declares the territory won't have direct elections for its Chief Executive in 2007 nor for all its lawmakers in 2008.
A landslide buries a village in southern Kyrgyzstan, and emergency officials state that up to 33 people are missing and feared dead.
Nick Holonyak Jr., inventor of the light-emitting diode (LED), receives the 10th annual Lemelson-MIT Prize, awarded to prominent inventors by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [(AP)]
Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen (13) becomes the world's youngest international Grandmaster (GM), and the second youngest ever, after four wins and four draws out of nine games in the 6th Dubai Open Chess Championship. [(Aftenposten)]

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