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From the pages of Gulf News dated April 12 to 18, 1979

From the pages of Gulf News dated April 12 to 18, 1979

  • Compiled by Abdul Rahim Abdul Kareem, Head of Archives
  • Published: 00:28 April 18, 2008
  • Gulf News

April 12

Idi Amin flees Kampala
TANZANIAN troops captured President Idi Amin's capital of Kampala and were met by jubilant residents throwing flowers. Out for revenge after eight years of harsh military rule, Ugandan civilians looted shops and battered some of Amin's soldiers to death. One of the ministers said that Amin fled the capital and had gone to the eastern industrial town of Jinja.

April 14

New Ugandan government formed
THOUSANDS of jubilant Ugandans gave a rapturous welcome to their new head of state when exiled leader Yusufu Lule flew home from Tanzania to claim the office of fugitive President Idi Amin. Professor Lule took his oath as President on the steps of Parliament.

Bombay's Billa and Ranga convicted
BILLA and Ranga, two notorious Bombay criminals, were convicted for the macabre killings of two teenage children of an Indian naval officer. Both have been sentenced to death.

April 15

PNA withdraws from Pakistan government
THE Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) met to finalise plans to withdraw from the Government of military ruler General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq following last week's execution of former Premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

April 16

Killer quake jars the Adriatic
A MASSIVE earthquake, possible the worst in this nation's history, struck the Adriatic coastal region of Yugoslavia, killing at least 100 people. The death toll was expected to rise. Hundreds were injured and scores of industrial plants, hospitals, ports, hotels, homes and resorts damaged. The killer quake registered 7.2 on the Richter scale.

Arab fund cuts aid
EGYPT lost a valuable source of development aid when it was suspended from the 17-nation Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development after Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel. The fund has given Egypt more than 200 million dollars in project aid since it was created nine years ago.

April 17

Iran's leading minister resigns
IRANIAN Foreign Minister Karim Sanjabi has resigned and his resignation has been accepted by the government. Dr Sanjabi was the first Minister to be named for the Cabinet of Iranian Prime Minister, Mehdi Bazargan after the February revolution which toppled the Shah.

Zoeller stumps all by winning Masters title
WITH his victory in the first sudden-death play-off in the history of the Masters golf championship, burly Fuzzy Zoeller has disproved the old saying that no one can win the first year they play the famous Augusta National Course.

April 18

Egypt expelled from OAPEC
THE Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) has expelled Egypt from membership and also announced a total embargo on oil shipments to Egypt. The expulsion was announced by the current OAPEC chairman, Libyan Minister Omar Al Montasser, at the end of a two day OAPEC meeting.

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