March 1998 News and Events

Updated July 10, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

1998 News Month-By-Month

World

Russian Atomic Minister Ousted (March 2): Viktor N. Mikhailov, influential in nation's military and civilian nuclear establishment, dismissed to surprise of many.
Mondale Brings Message to Indonesia (March 3): Former Vice President is second Clinton envoy to express concern over mounting economic and social crisis.
President of Israel Re-Elected (March 4): Parliament names Ezer Weizman for second five-year term after unusually hectic campaign for largely ceremonial post.
Serbs Battle Ethnic Albanians (March 5, et seq.): Hundreds of police reported to fire mortar rounds, set homes on fire, and shoot men in villages in central Kosovo Province, in sweep to stamp out separatist movement. (March 9): U.S. and allies decide to impose modest diplomatic and economic sanctions on Yugoslavia for “unacceptable” use of force. Serbian police renew counter-insurgency action. More than 80 reported dead in Kosovo.
Russia Plans Nuclear Reactor Sales to Iran (March 6): In rebuff to U.S., Moscow's Atomic Energy Ministry reveals plan to supply additional equipment.
Ex-Nazi Sentenced for Massacre in Italy (March 7): Military court orders life in prison for Erich Priebke, 84, for role in 1944 killing of 335 men and boys at Ardeatine Caves, Italy's worst wartime slaughter.
Former Serb Commander Admits Rape (March 9): Dragoljub Kunarac, 37, is first to plead guilty before war crimes tribunal in The Hague of raping Muslim women during Bosnian war in 1992.
Congress Party Head Resigns in India (March 9): Sitaram Kesri, president of oldest political group, quits after party's failure to win parliamentary election. (March 14): Sonia Gandhi, widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, elected as Kesri's successor. Her victory affirms family dynasty's continued dominance.
Rightist Leader Resigns in Chile (March 10): Gen. Augusto Pinochet quits as armed forces commander-in-chief to be sworn in as senator for life. His 17 years as dictator were marked by mass killings.
Three Palestinians Slain in West Bank (March 11): Martyrs' funeral given for men killed by Israeli troops at army checkpoint. Violent protests spread.
Financial Scandals Erupt in Japan (March 12): Prosecutors raid central bank and arrest official suspected of leaking secrets to nation's banks.
A Sweeping Amnesty in South Korea (March 13): President Kim Dae Jung frees scores of political prisoners and clears records of 5.5 million Koreans.
U.S. Drops Condemnation of China (March 13): Administration abandons sponsorship of U.N.'s annual resolution criticizing Beijing on human rights record.
Hindu Party Gains Power in India (March 15): President invites nationalist leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to form Government as Prime Minister. He will head coalition regime of more than 20 parties. Moderate policy assured.
Vatican Regrets Inaction in Holocaust (March 16): Document, an “act of repentance,” admits failure of Roman Catholic Church to deter mass killing of Jews during World War II.
Israeli Premier Rebuffs British Official (March 17): Netanyahu cancels dinner with Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. Netanyahu charges visiting Briton violated agreement by meeting with Palestinians at site planned for disputed Jewish settlement.
Major Reforms Pledged for China (March 19): Zhu Rongji, new Prime Minister, outlines sweeping 3-year program for changes to make state-owned industries solvent, overhaul banking system, and redesign Government.
India's Prime Minister Sworn In (March 19): Ascendancy of Hindu nationalist Atal Bihari Vajpayee alarms Muslims, moderate Hindus.
Yeltsin Dismisses Entire Cabinet (March 23): In display of power, he includes trusted Prime Minister Viktor S. Chernomyrdin among those on list. (March 27): President appoints Sergei Kiriyenko, 35, a reform-minded banker, to succeed Chernomyrdin.
Iraq Arrests Germ Weapons Specialist (March 23): Baghdad reports detention of Dr. Nassir al-Hindawi as he was preparing to flee country. Action is blow to U.N. arms inspectors, who had hoped to interview him.
Pope Ends Visit to Nigeria (March 23): Admonishes nation for lack of respect for human rights. Urges ruling junta to relax grip on land torn by ethnic strife.
Clinton Acclaimed on Visit to Africa (March 23, et seq.): Opens 12-day tour with speech in Ghana pledging more U.S. interest and aid. (March 24): In Uganda, President expresses regret for American role in African slavery. (March 25): In Uganda conference he gets commitment from six East African leaders to work for democracy. (March 26): In Cape Town, South Africa, Clinton says U.S. has “profound” stake in nation's new democracy.
Saudis End Inquiry Into U.S. Airmen's Deaths (March 30): Saudi Arabian government delays report on investigation into 1996 terrorist bombing that killed 19 Americans.
Yeltsin Bars Re-Election Race in 2000 (March 30): Russian President, 67, refrains from endorsing any of a number of would-be successors.

Nation

Top Army Soldier Cleared of Sex Charges (March 13): Court martial acquits Sergeant Major Gene C. McKinney of sexual misconduct, but convicts him on one count of obstructing justice. (March 16): Military jury metes mild sentence of reprimand and rules that Sgt. McKinney get one-step demotion to master sergeant.
Volunteer Recalls Approach by Clinton (March 15): In TV interview, Kathleen E. Willey, a 51-year-old former White House assistant, says President made unwanted sexual approach. (March 16): White House releases correspondence showing that Ms. Willey maintained cordial relationship with President in four years since alleged incident.
Democratic Fund-Raiser Pleads Guilty (March 16): Johnny Chung, California businessman, faces sentence on charges of bank fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy in connection with $20,000 in illegal contributions to Clinton-Gore re-election campaign.
Clinton Invokes Executive Privilege (March 20): Also calls on attorney-client relationship privilege to block testimony by senior White House aides in grand jury investigation of alleged Monica Lewinsky affair.
House Defeats Election Reform Bill (March 30): Approves only two minor changes in campaign law. Bars floor debate on bipartisan plan for major overhaul.
Democrats Offer Patient Protection Bill (March 31): Leaders in Congress say legislation would regulate practices of health insurance companies and health maintenance organizations. Consumer groups, unions, and American Medical Association support plan.

Business/Science/Society

Princess Diana's Two Sons Share Bulk of Estate (March 2): Will allots total of $21.3 million to Princes William and Harry.
Punishment of N.B.A. Star Reduced (March 4): Arbitrator rules National Basketball Association must shorten one-year suspension given Latrell Sprewell for choking coach. Orders Golden State Warriors to reinstate multi-million-dollar contract.
Briton Honored for Interfaith Work (March 4): Sir Sigmund Sternberg, businessman and philanthropist, wins $1.2 million Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, world's largest monetary award, for promoting dialogue among different faiths.
U.S. Spacecraft Finds Frozen Water on Moon (March 5): Scientists say ice crystals mixed with soil could provide fuel for rockets exploring solar system.
First Woman Space Commander Named (March 5): Air Force Lieut. Col. Eileen Collins chosen to pilot shuttle Columbia on Dec. 1998 mission to deploy advanced telescope.
Lottery Worker Kills Four Bosses and Himself (March 6): Accountant in Connecticut office reportedly angered by salary dispute and failure to win promotion.
Austria to Return Confiscated Artworks (March 6): Owners to receive possessions seized by Nazis from Jews and kept in Vienna museums as national treasures.
Heavy Storms Batter Much of Nation (March 9): Snow, ice, and bitter temperatures cripple wide area of Midwest. Weather system causes deadly flooding in South and rain and high winds in the Northeast.
New Cancer Cases Decline in U.S. (March 12): Federal officials report first drop since 1930s, a sharp reversal in disease that kills 1,500 Americans daily.
Vitamin E Found to Cut Prostate Cancer Risk (March 17): Researchers in Finland say pills reduced incidence by a third and death rate by 41 percent in study of thousands of smokers. Vitamin A had no effect.
Presbyterians Keep Ban on Gay Clergy (March 18): Regional bodies of Presbyterian Church (USA) vote against replacing law with broader statute that would be open to individual interpretation.
Three Nations Announce Oil Production Cut (March 22): Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Mexico cooperate in move expected to reverse sharp drop in world prices. Other countries also expected to reduce output.
Two Boys Kill 5 at Arkansas School (March 24): Boy, 13, and cousin, 11, slay four girls and a teacher. Also wound 11 at Jonesboro middle school. Older boy said to have vowed to kill all girls who had broken up with him. Killers seized while fleeing.
F.D.A. Approves Male Impotence Pill (March 27): Prescription drug, sildenafil citrate, or Viagra, is made by Pfizer Inc. It acts on normal physiological system.
El Niño Loses Influence (March 29): Effects of Pacific Ocean high sea-surface temperature wane as spring relieves North America's harmful weather pattern.
Florida Executes First Woman Since Slavery (March 30): Judy Buenoano, 54, dies in electric chair. Was convicted of poisoning husband, killing paralyzed son, and attempting to kill boyfriend.