International Events in May 1999
May 1
A mail bomb rips through a crowded pub in central London killing two persons and injuring over 70, in what is believed to be the third such attack by neo-Nazi right-wing extremists in as many weeks.
May 2
Yugoslavia releases three American soldiers.
May 5
The European Parliament approves the nomination of the former Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Romano Prodi, as next President of the European Commission.
May 6
Historic agreement on the political future of East Timor is signed in New York by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia and Portugal. A U.N. sponsored balloting to assess the political wishes of the East Timorese, will take place on August 8.
May 7
Nearly 300 years after its abolition in favour of rule from London, Scotland gets back its Parliament in a historic vote.
May 8
NATO missiles hit the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade killing at least four persons.
May 9
Beijing sends a special mission to Belgrade to investigate the NATO missile attack amid massive street protests across China.
May 10
China demands an official apology from the U.S. for the missile attack and suspends diplomatic contacts on military affairs, arms control and human rights issues.
May 12
The Russian President, Mr. Boris Yeltsin, fires his Prime Minister, Mr. Yevgeny Primakov and his Cabinet.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Mr. Robert Rubin, resigns.
May 13
Serb troops begin pullout from Kosovo.
Mr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is elected Italy's President.
May 14
The Scottish Labour leader, Mr. Donald Dewar is elected Scotland's First Minister.
May 16
The British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, sets June 30 as the deadline for the transfer of a range of largely home-rule powers from Britain to Northern Ireland.
May 18
Mr. Ehud Barak is set to become the next Prime Minister of Israel.
May 19
Russia's acting Prime Minister, Mr. Sergei Stephashin, wins overwhelming parliamentary approval.
May 23
Mr. Johannes Rau, veteran politician of the ruling Social Democratic Party, is elected German President.
May 27
The International War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague formally indicts the Yugoslav President, Mr. Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes.
The Queen and the Prince of Wales inaugurate the new Welsh Assembly, the first in 600 years.
Moule Kwelagobe, the 19-year-old Miss Botswana, wins the Miss Universe title for 1999.
May 28
The outgoing Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, resigns from Parliament.
May 29
Mr. Olusegum Obasanjo is sworn in Nigerian President.