April 1997

Thursday 03:

Thalit massacre begins in Algeria; all but 1 of the 53 inhabitants of Thalit are killed by guerrillas.

Sunday 13:

Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament

Tuesday 15:

Fire sweeps through a campsite of Muslims making the Hajj pilgrimage; the official death toll is 343.

Sunday 20:

The San Diego Padres face the St. Louis Cardinals in the first Major League Baseball game ever played in Hawaii.

Tuesday 22:

A 126-day hostage crisis at the residence of the Japanese ambassador in Lima, Peru ends after government commandos storm and capture the building, rescuing 71 hostages. One hostage dies of a heart attack, two soldiers are killed from rebel fire, and all 14 rebels are slain.

Wednesday 23:

Omaria massacre in Algeria; 42 villagers killed.

Sunday 27:

Andrew Cunanan murders Jeffrey Trail, beginning a murder spree that will last until July and terminate with the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace.

Monday 28:

The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention goes into effect. Russia, Iraq and North Korea were notable nations who had not ratified the treaty.

Tuesday 29:

The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons among its signatories.

Wednesday 30:

Ellen DeGeneres's character comes out of the closet on the sitcom Ellen.