Syria commits to April 30th deadline for full Lebanon pullout before elections News
Syria commits to April 30th deadline for full Lebanon pullout before elections

[JURIST] A UN envoy announced Sunday that Syria will withdraw its 14,000 troops from Lebanon by the end of April, before Lebanese parliamentary elections in May. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara told the UN's Terje Roed-Larsen that "all Syrian troops, military assets and the intelligence apparatus will have been withdrawn fully and completely latest by April 30, 2005." Damascus has faced considerable international pressure – including considerable pressure from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan [JURIST report] – to withdraw following the February 14th assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Damascus has denied any responsibility in al-Hariri's death. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.