Portal:Current events/2004 March 21
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March 21, 2004 (Sunday)
- Jimmy Carter, former US president and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner, vehemently condemns George W. Bush and Tony Blair for waging an unnecessary war "based upon lies and misinterpretations" in order to oust Saddam Hussein. He claims that Blair had allowed his better judgment to be swayed by Bush's desire to finish a war that his father had started. (Independent)
- Malaysian general election: Voting gets underway all over Malaysia to decide the new holders of seats in Parliament and various state assemblies. Secular ruling coalition Barisan Nasional wins a two-thirds majority and wrests back the state of Terengganu from Islamist party PAS. A recount is pending for the closely contested state of Kelantan. (Malaysiakini)
- The second race of the 2004 Formula One championship, in Malaysia, is won by Michael Schumacher. (BBC)
- Measurements taken at Mauna Loa Observatory show carbon dioxide readings of 379 parts per million, up by 3 ppm in one year; average increase for the past decade has been 1.8 ppm. The reason for this accelerated buildup in a greenhouse gas requires further analysis. (AP)
- Al-Qaeda claims to have purchased "smart briefcase bombs" with nuclear capabilities on the black market. (AP)
- Salvadoran presidential election: Voting takes place to elect a new president of El Salvador. (BBC)
- ROC presidential election: Taiwan's High Court has ordered all ballot boxes to be sealed, in order to preserve evidence. However, a recount of votes was not ordered. Various protests are held throughout the island. (AP)