December 1996

Thursday 12:

Uday Hussein is seriously injured in an assassination attempt.

Friday 13:

Kofi Annan elected as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Saturday 14:

A massive freightliner hits the Riverwalk mall and hotel complex in New Orleans, Louisiana, injuring 116.

Wednesday 18:

"Ebonics" was declared a language or dialect by the outgoing school board of Oakland, California, whose vote was overturned by the incoming board.

Thursday 26:

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification goes into force

Friday 27:

Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram air base which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul.

Sunday 29:

Guatemala and leaders of Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union sign a peace accord that ends a 36 year civil war.

Monday 30:

Proposed budget cuts by Benjamin Netanyahu spark protests from 250,000 workers who shut down services across Israel.