Dec. 16, Independence Day of Kazakhstan

1941- German forces under the command of Lt. Gen. Erwin Rommel withdraw from north Africa.

1969 – British Parliament overwhelmingly votes to end the death penalty for murder.

1980- Reopening of Suez Canal for traffic after expanding its width and deepening its access.

1991- Kazakhstan gains independence from the former Soviet Union.

1998- US and Britain launch a 3-day military operation on bombing Iraqi targets.

Born today:

1952- Italian footballer Francesco “Ciccio” Graziani was born.

Deaths:

2005 – Tunisian author Mahmoud Messad passes away.

H. Zain/ Barry