Iraq war is top story of 2003
2003-12-23 13:25
New York - The US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq was judged the top news story of 2003, according to an annual survey of Associated Press subscribers around the world.
The war received 51 first-place votes from the 67 newspapers, news agencies and broadcasters in 28 countries.
The Sars outbreak garnered the second most votes, while the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict tied for third.
Iraq was clearly judged a dominating story, as two other Iraq-related stories were among the journalists' top five picks: the diplomatic crisis at the UN over a possible war tied for third, while Iraqi resistance to the US occupation ranked fifth.
Saddam's capture on December 13 was not included in the poll.
The Iraq conflict - and the divisions it created - seemed significant because "it could mean a destabilisation of the whole world situation and changes in the prevailing power balance," said Ingrid Thoernqvist, assistant foreign news editor at Swedish Television.
The war provoked widespread opposition around the world, with large anti-war marches held in many cities.
Here are 2003's top stories:
1. Iraq War - After months of ultimatums and military build-up, US and British troops invaded Iraq on March 20. They controlled much of Baghdad by April 7. US President George W Bush declared major combat over on May 1, but the ensuing occupation has proved difficult. Saddam has been captured, but no weapons of mass destruction have been found.
2. Sars Outbreak - Severe acute respiratory syndrome, which first broke out in southern China, killed at least 774 people and infected more than 8 000 people worldwide before it was brought under control in June.
3. Israel-Palestinina Conflict - The "road map" peace plan, announced in June and backed by the US, the EU, Russia and the UN, envisions the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005. But it has stalled amid Palestinian suicide bombings and Israel's attempts to kill Palestinian militants and its construction of a "security barrier".
3. UN crisis over Iraq - A bitter public battle pitting the French, Germans and Russians against the Americans and British over whether to make war on Iraq produced one of the UN Security Council's biggest crises and severely strained diplomatic ties.
5. Iraqi Resistance to US Occupation - Shadowy insurgents have killed more than 200 coalition soldiers since Bush declared major fighting over on May 1.
6. Columbia Disaster - Just 16 minutes short of touchdown on February 1, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated into fiery debris, killing all seven astronauts on board.
7.New Chinese President - China appointed Hu Jintao as its president in March, handing power to a new generation of leaders expected to continue liberal economic policies while maintaining tight Communist Party political control.
8. War on Terror - Two key terrorist suspects were captured: Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Hambali, accused of being al-Qaeda's operations chief in Southeast Asia. Terrorists struck again in the deadly bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, and with attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on the British Consulate, a British bank and two synagogues.
9. EU Ratification of Eastward Expansion - The European Parliament ratified the EU's expansion eastward, paving the way for 10 new members to join in 2004.
10. China Space Mission - China launched its first manned space mission in October, becoming the third country to send a person into orbit.
- AP