May 18, 2005

[edit] May 18 2005 (Wednesday)

According to a spokesman for the Georgian Interior Ministry, a hand grenade found among spectators during a speech by U.S. President George W. Bush last week in Tbilisi failed to function, although it was live and could have exploded. It was originally thought to have been a dummy grenade. (CNN)
Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski set the date for parliamentary elections for September 25, 2005 and a presidential election for October 9, 2005. (Bloomberg)
Unrest in Uzbekistan: 36 foreign diplomats visit Andijan in a government-sponsored trip and under heavy guard. The Uzbek government continues to deny that civilians were killed. The official death toll has risen to 169 but some human rights groups state that it can be as high as 750. A group of Islamic rebels led by a man called Baxtiyor Rahimov claim that they now control the border town of Qorasuv. (Mosnews) (Reuters AlertNet) (BBC) (IHT) (Forbes)
The World Health Organization announces an ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo with 11 cases so far. (WHO press release) (News24) (Reuters AlertNet)
In Angola, the Marburg virus has claimed 311 lives. (ReliefWeb) (News24) (Reuters AlertNet)
Russia demands return of the energy minister Yevgeny Adamov, who is in a Swiss prison on a U.S. warrant waiting extradition. (RIA Novosti) (Swissinfo) (LA Times)