April 12, 2004

Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez states that the mission of the U.S. forces is to kill or capture Muqtada al-Sadr. (Defenselink)
Argentine president Néstor Kirchner spends his fourth day in hospital for a bleeding peptic ulcer. (Mercopress)
Pakistani opposition leader Javed Hashmi, president of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy is sentenced to 23 years in prison for inciting mutiny and sedition in the armed forces. He distributed a letter critical of Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. (BBC) (Hi Pakistan) (Xinhuanet)
Canada starts its largest seal hunt in 50 years. (BBC) (Independent) (CNN)
West Indies captain Brian Lara sets the highest score in Test cricket - 400 not out on the third day of the fourth Test against England in Antigua. He makes his 400 in 773 minutes off 582 balls, hitting 43 fours and four sixes. (BBC)