WHAT HAPPENED ON 1st April 1999?

31st March 1999

What People were saying on

"A very full diary & having to do all my husband's washing but not his ironing."

Cherie Blair when asked by a schoolboy what was the hardest part of being the Prime Minister's wife.

"We succeeded in kicking the government out of our bedroom."

Sherri Williams who sells sex devices after an Alabama state law banning vibrators was overturned by a court.

"Men prefer pets they can control like dogs. They can't handle that 'get stuffed' stare from a cat."

Ex-model Celia Hammond who now rescues animals.

1st April 1999

SEIZED US SERVICEMEN FACE COURT-MARTIAL

The three US servicemen captured by Yugoslav troops will go on trial before a military court in Kosovo tomorrow the Yugoslav state news agency has said The US says the three were seized inside Macedonia's borders & that putting them on trial is "ridiculous". They have appeared on Yugoslav TV in US army uniforms. One seemed badly bruised The US says it will "spare no effort" to secure their release. It insists the Red Cross must be given access to them.

1st April 1999

UKRAINIAN SERIAL KILLER FACES EXECUTION

A court in Ukraine has passed the death sentence on a man who murdered 52 people ` including 10 children. Anatoliy Onoprienko 39 had confessed to the killings allegedly aided by an Afghan war veteran Serhiy Rogozin. He killed nine people in 1989 then went on a bloody rampage leaving few clues and no witnesses the court in Zhytomyr heard. He was arrested in 1996. The judge said Onoprienko would be put to death by shooting.

31st March 1999

As Nato's air strikes against

Yugoslavia enter their second week `H[JKJRRR diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. "Negotiations for peace in Kosovo have failed for the umpteenth time " says La Repubblica". It quotes the Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema as saying Nato's strikes will end only when Milosevic "ends the appalling violence against the civilian population of Kosovo". WORLD TODAY: Monday-Friday only - heABCnewspaper in Madrid describes he outcome of the talks in Belgrade s "disappointing". The fact that Primakov's negotiations idn't change much is proved by the act that a number of Nato aircraft ook off yet again" the paper says. iberationin Paris also describes rimakov's mission as a "failure". t carries an interview with the Nato ecretary-General Javier Solana who ays the raids have weakened Milosevic.5 2/3 WORLD TODAY: Monday-Friday only 7 World service: MW 648 SW 6.195 8

1st April 1999

SEIZED US SERVICEMEN FACE COURT-MARTIAL

The three US servicemen captured by Yugoslav troops will go on trial before a military court in Kosovo tomorrow the Yugoslav state news agency has said The US says the three were seized inside Macedonia's borders & that putting them on trial is "ridiculous". They have appeared on Yugoslav TV in US army uniforms. One seemed badly bruised The US says it will "spare no effort" to secure their release. It insists the Red Cross must be given access to them.

1st April 1999

TRAINS FULL OF REFUGEES LEAVE KOSOVO

Three trains crammed full of Kosovo Albanians from Pristina have arrived at the Macedonian border. "The trains could have up to 30 carriages each & people are crammed in like sardines " said UN refugee spokeswoman Judith Kumin. They were expelled from Pristina & herded on to trains which came from Belgrade said Ms Kumin. She also warned that thousands more were being held awaiting transport.

31st March 1999

ANNAN "OUTRAGED" BY ETHNIC CLEANSING

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has accused Serbian forces of flagrantly abusing humanitarian law in Kosovo. Refugees who had fled their homeland had to be allowed to return he said. "I am profoundly outraged by reports of the vicious & systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing conducted by Serbian military & paramilitary forces. "Once again the civilian population is being made to pay the price for an unresolved political dispute " he said.

1st April 1999

SEIZED US SERVICEMEN FACE COURT-MARTIAL

The three US servicemen captured by Yugoslav troops will go on trial before a military court in Kosovo tomorrow the Yugoslav state news agency has said The US says the three were seized inside Macedonia's borders & that putting them on trial is "ridiculous". They have appeared on Yugoslav TV in US army uniforms. One seemed badly bruised The US says it will "spare no effort" to secure their release. It insists the Red Cross must be given access to them.

1st April 1999

TROOP CAPTURE AGAINST CONVENTION ` COOK

President Milosevic has contravened the Geneva Convention by capturing & parading three US soldiers on state-run TV Robin Cook has said. The troops captured in Macedonia "posed no threat whatsoever" to Serb military forces the Defence Secretary added. Yugoslav vice-president Vuk Draskovic has said the soldiers would be held "in accordance with international law". Nato Secretary-General Javier Solana said the development was "very serious"

31st March 1999

WEDNESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT WESTMINSTER

At Prime Minister's questions Tony Blair dismissed Yugoslav President Milosevic's offer to start withdrawing troops from Kosovo as a "ploy". He added that it was necessary to "intensify" attacks on "the thugs carrying out killing & repression". Tory leader William Hague said the Government should match "pound for pound the money given in all voluntary donations" to charities & aid agencies dealing with the Kosovo crisis

1st April 1999

SEIZED US SERVICEMEN FACE COURT-MARTIAL

The three US servicemen captured by Yugoslav troops will go on trial before a military court in Kosovo tomorrow the Yugoslav state news agency has said The US says the three were seized inside Macedonia's borders & that putting them on trial is "ridiculous". They have appeared on Yugoslav TV in US army uniforms. One seemed badly bruised The US says it will "spare no effort" to secure their release. It insists the Red Cross must be given access to them.

1st April 1999

TROOP CAPTURE AGAINST CONVENTION ` COOK

President Milosevic has contravened the Geneva Convention by capturing & parading three US soldiers on state-run TV Robin Cook has said. The troops captured in Macedonia "posed no threat whatsoever" to Serb military forces the Defence Secretary added. Yugoslav vice-president Vuk Draskovic has said the soldiers would be held "in accordance with international law". Nato Secretary-General Javier Solana said the development was "very serious"