VII. The Contemporary Period, 1945–2000 > E. The Middle East and North Africa, 1945–2000 > 2. Military, Diplomatic, and Social Developments > 2000, Jan. 13
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
2000, Jan. 13
 
The Algerian government, although suspected to be exaggerating, claimed that some 80 percent of the rebels who had been prolonging Algeria's bloody civil war had surrendered. Over 100,000 people had died in the seven-year-old war.  1
 
Jan. 20
 
Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem and Greek foreign minister George Papandreou signed six peace accords, greatly improving foreign relations between Turkey and Greece. This marked the first visit by a Greek foreign minister to Turkey in 38 years.  2
 
April 23–27
 
The Iranian Supreme Court began shutting down reformist newspapers throughout the country after the rebel spirit had enveloped the nation following parliamentary elections where almost two-thirds of the available seats went to progressive candidates. By late July the conservative judiciary had succeeded in closing all 16 moderate newspapers in Iran, extending the crackdown on free press to include numerous arrests of liberal writers and artists.  3
 
May 24
 
Southern Lebanon came suddenly under Hizbollah control as Israeli forces and 3,000 Christian militiamen withdrew from the area after 22 years of occupation.  4
 
June 10
 
Pres. Hafez al-Assad, who had dictatorially ruled Syria since 1971, died and was succeeded by his son, Bashar al-Assad. Assad, 34, had previously been the armed forces commander.  5
 
Sept. 28
 
After Palestinian-Israeli talks had failed in late July due to disagreement over the issue of East Jerusalem, the worst violence seen in the region since 1996 erupted and continued through the end of the year.  6
 
Oct. 21–22
 
In Cairo, Egypt, the members of the Arab League held an emergency summit to discuss the recent Israeli-Palestinian violence outbreaks. At the conference, 21 of 22 league members signed a document that accused Israel of committing recent atrocities against the Palestinians. A $1 billion fund was devoted by the league to aid injured Palestinians and their families during the continuing crisis.  7
 
Dec. 31
 
The trial proceedings of the fugitive Osama bin Laden began in New York City. Several suspected international terrorists, many of whom were still at large, were designated to be put on trial for their violent human rights crimes. Still believed to be living in Afghanistan, bin Laden was the foremost of several Islamic militants facing prosecution in the U.S.  8
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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