April 2003

Akufo-Addo

Beyeler

1

Menicucci

Giannoni

China: Lu Bing is appointed acting chairman of the government of Guangxi.
Ghana: In a cabinet reshuffle, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo becomes foreign minister, replacing Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, who becomes interior minister.
San Marino: Pier Marino Menicucci (Christian Democrat) and Giovanni Giannoni (Socialist) take office as captains-regent.
Switzerland: Peter Beyeler becomes Landammann of Aargau.

2

Paravac

Bosnia and Herzegovina: The chairman of the Presidency, Mirko Sarovic, resigns. On April 9 Borislav Paravac is elected as the new Serb member (and chairman) of the Presidency, taking office April 10.

Parts

Estonia: President Arnold Rüütel asks Juhan Parts to form a government. Parliament confirms the nomination on April 7 (60-27). On April 9 Rüütel approves the new cabinet, which retains Kristiina Ojuland as foreign minister, while Margus Hanson becomes defense minister, Margus Leivo interior minister, and Tõnis Palts finance minister. The new government takes office April 10.
Swaziland: Roy Fanourakis is sworn in as foreign minister.

3

China: Yang Jing is named acting chairman of the government of Nei Mongol.

7

American Samoa: Togiola Tulafono is sworn in as governor to fill the remaining term of the late Tauese Sunia.
Benin: Former prime minister of Dahomey (1967-68) Maurice Kouandété dies.

8

Ghana: Former foreign minister (1972) Nathan Apea Aferi dies.
Pakistan: Shaukat Aziz is appointed finance minister, formalizing a role he was already playing as finance adviser to the prime minister.

9

Iraq: U.S. forces take control of central Baghdad, marking the collapse of President Saddam Hussein's government. Gen. Tommy Franks is the supreme military commander, while on April 21 Lt.Gen. (ret.) Jay Garner arrives in Baghdad as civil administrator.

12

Malta: In parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami's Nationalist Party wins 51.7% of the vote (34 of 65 seats) and the Labour Party 47.6% (31). Turnout is 96.2%.

14

Charest

Canada: In Quebec elections, the Quebec Liberal Party led by Jean Charest wins 45.9% of the votes (76 of 125 seats), against 33.2% (45) for Premier Bernard Landry's Parti Québécois and 18.3% (4) for the Action Démocratique du Québec. Turnout is 70%. Charest is sworn in as new premier on April 29.

Jäätteenmäki

Kalliomäki

Somalia: The president of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin, is reelected with 42.08% of the vote against 42.07% for Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo.

15

Finland: A new government is named, and sworn in on April 17. Anneli Jäätteenmäki is the new prime minister, Erkki Tuomioja stays on as foreign minister, Antti Kalliomäki becomes deputy prime minister and finance minister, Matti Vanhanen defense minister, and Kari Rajamäki interior minister.

Obeid

Lebanon: Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri resigns, but is appointed the next day to form a new government. In the new cabinet named on April 17 Mahmoud Hammoud becomes defense minister and is replaced as foreign minister by Jean Obeid.

Borradori

Switzerland: Marco Borradori becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.

19

Guinea-Bissau: Fernando Correia Landim becomes interior minister. On April 23 Filomena Mascarenhas Tipote is named defense minister.
Nigeria: In presidential elections, incumbent Olusegun Obasanjo of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) wins 61.9% of the vote, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) 32.2%, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 3.3%. Turnout is 69.1%. Results of gubernatorial elections (AD=Alliance for Democracy, NDP=National Democratic Party, NRP=National Reformation Party, PRP=People's Redemption Party, UNPP=United Nigeria People's Party):

Abia: Gov. Orji Uzor Kalu (PDP) 68.4%, Enyi Abaribe (ANPP) 25.1%, Onwuka Kalu (APGA) 6.5%.
Adamawa: Gov. Boni Haruna (PDP) 68.7%, Adamu Muazu Modibo (ANPP) 30.9%.
Akwa Ibom: Gov. Obong Victor Attah (PDP) 77.7%, Ime Sampson Unanah (ANPP) 13.7%, Idongesit Nkanga (NDP) 8.4%.
Anambra: Chris Ngige (PDP) 51.2%, Gregory Obi (APGA) 29.7%, George Moghalu (ANPP) 7.8%, Gov. Chinwoke Mbadinuju (AD) 6.9%.
Bauchi: Gov. Adamu Muazu (PDP) 71.3%, Ibrahim Jarma (ANPP) 22.6%, Mohammed Dewu (UNPP) 6.1%.
Bayelsa: Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (PDP) 93.9%, Millionaire Abowei (ANPP) 4.5%.
Benue: Gov. George Akume (PDP) 57.6%, Paul Iyorpuu Unongo (ANPP) 37.2%.
Borno: Ali Modu Sheriff (ANPP) 41.8%, Ibrahim Kashim (PDP) 30.1%, Gov. Mala Kachalla (AD) 27.6%.
Cross River: Gov. Donald Duke (PDP) 96.4%, Akpang Obi Odu (NDP) 2.6%.
Delta: Gov. James Ibori (PDP) 79.5%, Great Ogboru (AD) 16.5%.
Ebonyi: Gov. Sam Egwu (PDP) 96%, Lawrence Nwuruku (ANPP) 2.3%.
Edo: Gov. Lucky Igbinedion (PDP) 85.7%, Rowland S. Owie (ANPP) 13.1%.
Ekiti: Ayo Fayose (PDP) 53.9%, Gov. Niyi Adebayo (AD) 39.9%.
Enugu: Gov. Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP) 86.7%, Solomon Onu (NRP) 7.1%.
Gombe: Mohammed Danjuma Goje (PDP) 51.4%, Gov. Abubakar Hashidu (ANPP) 48.6%.
Imo: Gov. Achike Udenwa (PDP) 91.5%, Basil Onyia (APGA) 8.5%.
Jigawa: Gov. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (ANPP) 73.6%, Mohammed D. Alkali (PDP) 23.9%.
Kaduna: Gov. Ahmed Makarfi (PDP) 58.3%, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (ANPP) 39.1%.
Kano: Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) about 50%, Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (PDP) about 38%.
Katsina: Gov. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (PDP) 55.2%, Nura Khalil (ANPP) 44.7%.
Kebbi: Gov. Adamu Aliero (ANPP) 62%, Saidu S.R. Sambawa (PDP) 37.9%.
Kogi: Ibrahim Idris (PDP) 54.8%, Gov. Abubakar Audu (ANPP) 33.3%.
Kwara: Bukola Saraki (PDP) 54.6%, Gov. Mohammed Lawal (ANPP) 33.9%, Lai Mohammed (AD) 10.9%.
Lagos: Gov. Bola Tinubu (AD) 48.2%, Funsho Williams (PDP) 39.2%.
Nasarawa: Gov. Abdullahi Adamu (PDP) 69.7%, Aliyu Akwa Doma (ANPP) 15%, Haruna Abubakar (NDP) 14.1%.
Niger: Gov. Abdulkadir Kure (PDP) 59.5%, Mustapha Bello (PRP) 23.7%, Musa Inuwa (ANPP) 13.2%.
Ogun: Otunba Gbenga Daniel (PDP) 65.4%, Gov. Segun Osoba (AD) 34.6%.
Ondo: Olusegun Agagu (PDP) 71.4%, Gov. Ade Adefarati (AD) 23.8%.
Osun: Olagunsoye Oyinlola (PDP) 67.7%, Gov. Bisi Akande (AD) 30.5%.
Oyo: Rashidi Ladoja (PDP) 59.3%, Gov. Lam Adesina (AD) 36.1%.
Plateau: Gov. Joshua Dariye (PDP) 35.2%, David Jang (ANPP) 28.2%, Damishi Sango (AD) 20.9%, Bello Abdullahi (UNPP) 15.4%.
Rivers: Gov. Peter Odili (PDP) 97.1%, Chidi Awuse (ANPP) 1.8%.
Sokoto: Gov. Attahiru Bafarawa (ANPP) 71.8%, Abdullah Wali (PDP) 26.5%.
Taraba: Gov. Jolly Nyame (PDP) 82.3%, Sa'ad Abubakar (ANPP) 12%.
Yobe: Gov. Bukar Abba Ibrahim (ANPP) 67.9%, Adamu Maina Waziri (PDP) 31.8%.
Zamfara: Gov. Ahmed Sani (ANPP) 79.5%, Bala Mande (PDP) 19.8%.

20

Uruguay: Former foreign minister (1970-71) Jorge Peirano Facio dies.

21

Wang

China: Beijing mayor Meng Xuenong is dismissed. Wang Qishan becomes acting mayor on April 22.
Congo (Kinshasa): President Joseph Kabila names Abdoulaye Yerodia Ndombasi as one of four vice presidents. The others are to be named by rebel groups and opposition parties. On April 29 rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba is named as vice president for the Congolese Liberation Movement.
India: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Arvind Dave takes up the additional charge of Assam.

22

Botswana: Former commissioner of Bechuanaland (1963-65) Sir Peter Fawcus dies.

Khadjimba

Georgia: Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba names Raul Khadjimba as prime minister.

24

Turks and Caicos Islands: In parliamentary elections, Chief Minister Derek Taylor's People's Democratic Movement wins 7 of 13 seats and the Progressive National Party 6.

25

Lithuania: Interior Minister Juozas Bernatonis resigns. On April 28 Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas nominates Virgilijus Bulovas to replace Bernatonis.
Switzerland: Former president of the Council of State of Ticino (1965-66, 1969-70, 1973-74) Arturo Lafranchi dies.
United States: Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White resigns.

27

Argentina: In presidential elections, Carlos Saúl Menem wins 24.4% of the vote, Néstor Kirchner 22%, Ricardo López Murphy 16.3%, Elisa Carrió 14.1%, and Adolfo Rodríguez Saá 14.1%. Turnout is 77.6%. A runoff between Menem and Kirchner is to be held on May 18. In provincial elections, Ángel Maza is reelected governor of La Rioja with 51.9% of the vote against 40.6% for Jorge Yoma, and Alberto Rodríguez Saá is elected governor of San Luis with 90.1% against 5.3% for Marcelo Shortrede.
Paraguay: In presidential elections, Nicanor Duarte Frutos wins 37.1% of the vote, Julio César Franco 24%, and Pedro Fadul 21.3%. Turnout is 64.3%. Duarte will take office August 15. In parliamentary elections, the Colorado Party (ANR-PC) wins 37 of 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) 21, the Dear Fatherland Movement (MPQ) 10, and the National Union of Ethical Citizens 10; in the Senate, the ANR-PC wins 16 of 45 seats, the PLRA 12, and the MPQ 7.
Yemen: In parliamentary elections, President Ali Abdullah Saleh's General People's Congress wins 238 of 301 seats, the Islah Party 46, the Yemen Socialist Party 8, the Nasserite Unionist People's Organization 3, and the Ba`th Party 2.

28

Burundi: Former prime minister (1961-63) André Muhirwa dies.
Singapore: In a cabinet reshuffle, Teo Chee Hean is named to replace Tony Tan as defense minister from August 1.

29

Abbas

Shaath

Palestine: The parliament confirms the cabinet of Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (51-18). Abbas also takes the interior portfolio, while Nabil Shaath becomes foreign minister and Salam Fayyad is confirmed as finance minister. The cabinet is sworn in on April 30.

30

Brazil: Former governor of Minas Gerais (1975-78) and acting president (1981, 1983) Aureliano Chaves dies.

Ndayizeye

Burundi: Vice President Domitien Ndayizeye is sworn in as president in accordance with a power-sharing agreement. Alphonse Marie Kadege becomes vice president.