From the pages of Gulf News dated January 26 - February 01, 1980

January 26

US gives China status of 'most favoured nation'
A US decision to sell China military support equipment has brought future military co-operation one step closer, but its granting of "most favoured nation' trading status will have more immediate impact.

Tito back at work
Yugoslavia's 87-year-old President Josip Broz Tito increased his political activity after his spectacularly fast recovery from amputation of his left leg. Government officials said Tito summoned ministers and Communist Party officials to his hospital room for talks on the world and domestic situations.

January 27

Bani-Sadr: I have won
Iranian Finance Minister Abolhassan Bani-Sadr (right), the overwhelming leader in early returns in Iran's Presidential election, claimed victory and was quoted as saying the American hostage situation in Tehran is a "minor affair" that can be easily solved. Bani-Sadr said one of his priorities would be to end the crisis between Iran and the United States.

January 28

Rebels form front to liberate Afghanistan
Six Afghan rebel leaders have formed an alliance grouping more than 100,000 armed guerrillas in all of Afghanistan's 28 provinces. Leaders of the six factions, appearing at a news conference together for the first time, said their Islamic alliance for the liberation of Afghanistan had requested observer status at a 37-nation emergency Islamic conference on Afghanistan.

Population figures released
The UAE population totalled 891,590 at the end of 1979, according to an estimate issued by the Department of Central Statistics at the Ministry of Planning. This number includes 627,990 males and 263,600 females.

January 29

Conference condemns Soviets
The Islamic conference demanded the "immediate and complete" withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan and suspended the Afghan Government from the 42-member organisation. The conference "invited" Muslim states to either withhold diplomatic ties or sever existing links with the pro-Moscow Kabul Government and called on them to cut off all assistance to the regime.

January 30

Canada smuggles US diplomats from Iran
Six Americans safely fled Iran in recent days after hiding out in the Canadian Embassy there for almost three months, US and Canadian officials confirmed. The Americans, who took refuge in the Canadian Embassy in early November, have now safely fled Iran with Canadian passports.

January 30

Gulf can't be defended alone: Carter
US President Jimmy Carter said America does not have enough power in the Gulf to defend the region alone but predicted he can arouse the support of other nations that depend on its resources to oppose any threat to peace. Carter said in his State of the Union speech the United States now considers the Gulf of "vital interest" and would be prepared to defend it if necessary with military force.

February 1

Queen Juliana gives up throne
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (right) last night surprised the nation by announcing her abdication, saying her advancing age made it impossible to continue as monarch.