August 29th, 2008

Today in History

2003:
Ayatollah Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, the Shia Muslim leader in Iraq, is assassinated in a terrorist bombing, along with nearly 100 worshippers as they leave a mosque in Najaf.

1991:
Supreme Soviet suspends all activities of the Soviet Communist Party.

1966:
Execution of Sayyid Qutb, a leading theoretician of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.

1930:
The last 36 remaining inhabitants of St Kilda are voluntarily evacuated to Scotland.

1786:
Shays' Rebellion, an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers, begins in response to high debt and tax burdens.