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Indira Gandhi died in hospital after an operation to remove bullets
1984: Indian prime minister shot dead
England have
Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, has been killed by assassins in
New Delhi.
Mrs Gandhi was thought to have been walking through her gardens when she
was shot. She was taken to the All India Medical Hospital where she underwent an
emergency operation to remove the bullets but died an hour and a half later.
Initial reports suggest the two attackers were guards at her home who were
then shot by other security officers.
No exact motive is known but it is believed the pair were Sikh extremists
acting in retaliation for the storming of Sikh holy shrine the Golden Temple in
June.
Mrs Gandhi had been receiving death threats since the attack on the temple
in which 1,000 people died.
The night before her death she told a political rally: "I don't mind if my
life goes in the service of the nation. If I die today, every drop of my blood
will invigorate the nation."
Security throughout the country has been stepped up. Roads to the hospital
and the home of the prime minister have been sealed off and borders around Delhi
have been closed.
The Indian cabinet has started an emergency meeting to choose a
successor.
India's High Commissioner Prakash Mehrotra said: "Democracy is very deep
rooted in our country and the country is prepared to face any situation. A
meeting is being called in Delhi, it is usual that the number two man in the
cabinet takes charge for the time being".
Mrs Gandhi first became Prime Minister in 1966 and again in 1980 and was
praised for her battle against famine in rural areas.
Stan Orme from the Anglo Indian Parliamentary Association said: "It is a
very terrible thing. She was a very impressive person, very strong willed. It is
a real tragedy."
A massive crowd turned out to say farewell to their long-serving leader
2003: End of Mahathir era in Malaysia
Artificially 1969:
The The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, has handed over power
and stepped down after 22 years in office.
The change of leadership to Mohamad's deputy, Abdullah Badawi, has been
anticipated since Dr Mahathir announced his resignation in June 2002. He agreed
to stay on until today to ease the transition to his successor.
Dr Mahathir has led Malaysia for almost half its history since independence
in 1957, and the handover is a big change for a country where about 40% of the
population were not even born when he came to power.
In that time, he has overseen Malaysia's transformation from a backwater to
high-flying industrialised nation.
The 78-year-old Dr Mahathir has also gained a controversial reputation
abroad as a blunt-speaking pragmatist who regularly lashes out at the West and
defends authoritarian practices at home.
Only a few days ago, he angered foreign governments and Jewish groups by
claiming a Jewish cabal "ruled the world".
He was also criticised for the abrupt dismissal and arrest of former Deputy
Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar was jailed for six years in 1999 on charges of corruption, and given
a further nine-year sentence in 2000 on a charge of sodomy.
Anwar claims both charges were politically motivated.
Dr Mahathir has himself admitted he is ready for retirement.
"I've had my day. It's other people's turn now," he told reporters. "I had
22 years. I can't complain."
The handover took place at a ceremony in the National Palace, broadcast
live on television.
The King of Malaysia, Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, swore in Abdullah
Badawi as the country's next prime minister.
Mr Badawi, wearing a black tunic and traditional ethnic Malay dress,
pledged to "fulfil the obligations of this position honestly and with all my
energy".
At the end of the day, Dr Mahathir symbolically checked out at the new
government city in Putrajaya using the punch card system he introduced for civil
servants.
Mr Abdullah will check in using the same system on Monday morning.
The new prime minister is very different in style from Dr Mahathir.
He is seen as a safe pair of hands, yet someone who has gained a tough
reputation in his treatment of political opponents and alleged terrorists.
He will have his first major test in a general election widely expected
early next year.
Vocabulary:
assassin: a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political
figure) who kills by a treacherous surprise attack and often is hired to do the
deed(刺客) |
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发表于 2016-7-9 23:54:45