2007 Wychavon District Council election, By-elections between 2007 and 2011, Evesham South
A by-election was held in Evesham South on 18 February 2010 after the death of Conservative councillor Ron Cartwright. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Gerard O'Donnell with a majority of 182 votes over Liberal Democrat Diana Brown.


2007 Wyoming Cowboys football team
The 2007 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Cowboys were led by head coach Joe Glenn and played their home games at War Memorial Stadium.


2007 Wyre Borough Council election
Elections to Wyre Borough Council were held on 3 May 2007. All 55 councillors were elected from 26 wards in elections held every four years. The Conservative Party kept hold overall control of the council.


2007 Wyre Borough Council election
After the election composition of the council was as follows:


2007 Wyre Forest District Council election
The 2007 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.


2007 Wyre Forest District Council election, Election result
The Conservatives remained the largest party on the council after winning 5 seats, but failing to gain a majority. They gained a seat in Bewdley and Arley ward but lost one back in Mitton. Health Concern were the only party to increase their number of seats after taking a seat from Labour by 11 votes in Areley Kings. The defeated Labour councillor was their leader on the council, Jamie Shaw, who had been a councillor for 23 years. The Liberals held both the seats they were defending, with Mike Price holding Offmore and Comberton where a long term councillor Mike Oborski had died in February.


2007 Wyre Forest District Council election, Election result
Following the election the leader of the council, Conservative Stephen Clee, stood down after 3 years in charge of the council after the disappointing results for his party. He had been leader of his party in Wyre Forest for 6 years and was succeeded by John Campion.


2007 XM Satellite Radio Indy 300
The 2007 XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 was the opening round of the 2007 IndyCar Series season. It took place on March 24, 2007 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, United States.


2007 Xinjiang raid
The January 2007 Xinjiang raid was carried out on January 5, 2007 by the Chinese police against a suspected East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) training camp in Akto County in the Pamir plateau.


2007 Xinjiang raid
A spokesperson for the Xinjiang Public Security Department said that 18 terror suspects were killed and 17 captured. Those captured were either sentenced to death or life imprisonment. The raid also resulted in the death of one Chinese paramilitary officer Huang Qiang, age 21, and the injury of another officer. Authorities confiscated hand grenades, guns, and makeshift explosives from the site. ETIM is classified by the United Nations as a terrorist organization.


2007 Xinjiang raid
In reaction, many exiled Uyghur leaders quickly questioned the motives behind the raid. Rebiya Kadeer, a Uyghur human rights activist, called for an independent UN investigation into the raid, while Alim Seytoff, executive chairman of the World Uighur Congress, claimed the Chinese government has yet to produce evidence to substantiate the camp's connections to terrorism. In response, Zhao Yongchen, vice head of the Xinjiang counterterrorism forces, reiterated the reality of the camp's terrorist threat. By June 2017, a United States official stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was still evaluating the validity of China's terrorism claim, maintaining that there were no terrorist activities by international actors in the country from 2002 to 2007.


2007 Yale Bulldogs football team
The 2007 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by 11th-year head coach Jack Siedlecki, played their home games at the Yale Bowl and finished in second place in the Ivy League with a 6–1 record, 9–1 overall.


2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak
The 2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak represented the first time Zika virus had been detected outside Africa and Asia. It occurred in the Yap Islands, an island chain in the Federated States of Micronesia. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a vector-borne flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses.


2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak, Epidemiology
In 2007, physicians in the Yap Islands reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an outbreak of an illness characterized by rash, conjunctivitis, and arthralgia. Initial serum testing revealed some patients had the IgM antibody against dengue virus, yet the patients' signs and symptoms were clinically distinct from dengue fever. Subsequent retesting using consensus primers detected the presence of Zika virus RNA.


2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak, Epidemiology
A household survey was conducted to determine the proportion of Yap residents with the IgM antibody against Zika virus and to identify possible mosquito vectors of Zika virus. In total, the Yap Islands outbreak had 49 confirmed and 59 probable cases of Zika virus disease. The patients resided in 9 of the 10 municipalities on Yap. None of the patients required hospitalization. No hemorrhagic manifestations occurred and no deaths resulted. It was estimated that 73% (95% confidence interval, 68 to 77) of Yap residents 3 years of age or older had been recently infected with Zika virus. Aedes hensilli was the predominant mosquito species identified.


2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak, Epidemiology
The outbreak of Zika fever in Micronesia demonstrated the transmission of Zika virus outside Africa and Asia. This was considered a significant finding in that previously only 14 cases of Zika virus had been documented since the virus was first identified in 1947. Prior to the Yap Islands outbreak, no previous outbreaks of Zika virus had ever been reported and only 14 cases had been documented since the virus was first isolated in 1947. All previous cases had occurred within Africa and Asia.


2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak, Reservoir
Aedes aegypti has been recognized as the vector of Zika virus. The virus was first isolated in 1947 from a sentinel rhesus monkey stationed on a tree platform in the Zika forest, Uganda.


2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak, Transmission
Transmission is typically via the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, although in this outbreak, Aedes hensilli was the predominant mosquito species identified.


2007 Yau Tsim Mong District Council election
The 2007 Yau Tsim Mong District Council election was held on 18 November 2007 to elect all 16 elected members to the 20-member District Council.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings
The 2007 Yazidi communities bombings occurred on August 14, 2007, when four coordinated suicide car bomb attacks detonated in the Yazidi towns of Til Ezer (al-Qahtaniyah) and Siba Sheikh Khidir (al-Jazirah), in northern Iraq.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings
There were 796 people killed and at least 1,500 others wounded, making it the Iraq War's deadliest car bomb attack. It is also the fourth deadliest act of terrorism in history, after September 11 attacks in the United States, the Camp Speicher massacre in Iraq, and the Mai Kadra massacre in Ethiopia. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Tensions and background
For several months leading up to the attack, tensions had been building up in the area, particularly between Yazidis and Sunni Muslims (both Arabs and Kurds). Some Yazidis living in the area received threatening letters calling them "infidels". Leaflets were also distributed denouncing Yazidis as "anti-Islamic" and warning them that an attack was imminent.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Tensions and background
The attack was possibly connected with the murder of Du'a Khalil Aswad, a 17-year-old Yazidi girl, who was stoned to death by fellow Yazidis four months earlier. Aswad was believed to have wanted to convert in order to marry a Sunni. Two weeks later, after a video of the stoning appeared on the Internet, Sunni gunmen stopped minibuses filled with Yazidis; 23 Yazidi men were forced from a bus and shot dead.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Tensions and background
The Sinjar area, which has a mixed population of Yazidis, Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs, was scheduled to vote in a plebiscite on accession to the Kurdistan Region in December 2007. This caused hostility among the neighbouring Arab communities. A force of 600 Kurdish Peshmerga was subsequently deployed in the area, and ditches were dug around Yazidi villages to prevent further attacks.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Details
The bombings occurred at around 7:20 pm on August 14, 2007, when four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks detonated in the Yazidi towns of Qahtaniyah and Jazeera (Siba Sheikh Khidir), near Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, northern Iraq. They targeted the Yazidis, a religious minority in Iraq, using a fuel tanker and three cars. An Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman said that two tons of explosives were used in the blasts, which crumbled buildings, trapping entire families beneath mud bricks and other wreckage as entire neighborhoods were flattened. Rescuers dug underneath the destroyed buildings by hand to search for remaining survivors.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Details
"Hospitals here are running out of medicine. The pharmacies are empty. We need food, medicine and water otherwise there will be an even greater catastrophe," said Abdul-Rahim al-Shimari, mayor of the Baaj district, which includes the devastated villages.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Details
There were 796 people killed and at least 1,562 more wounded.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Responsibility
No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Iraq's President, Jalal Talabani, accused Iraqi Sunni insurgents of the bombings, pointing at the history of Sunni violence against Yazidis. They were reported to have distributed leaflets denouncing Yazidis as "anti-Islamic". Although the attacks carry al-Qaeda's signature of multiple simultaneous attacks, it is unclear why they would refrain from claiming responsibility for such a successful operation. "We're looking at Al-Qaeda as the prime suspect," said Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver, a United States military spokesman.


2007 Yazidi communities bombings, Responsibility
On September 3, 2007, the U.S. military reportedly killed the suspected mastermind of the bombings, Abu Mohammed al-Afri.


2007 Ykkönen
League tables for teams participating Finnish Football League Tables in Ykkönen, the second tier of the Finnish football league system, in 2007.


2007 Ykkönen, League table, Promotion Play-Offs
FC Viikingit as 13th placed team of the 2007 Veikkausliiga and RoPS as runners-up of the 2007 Ykkönen competed in a two-legged play-off for a place in the Veikkausliiga. RoPS won the play-off by 2-1 on aggregate and were promoted to the Veikkausliiga.


2007 Ykkönen, League table, Promotion Play-Offs
RoPS Rovaniemi - Viikingit Helsinki  1-0Viikingit Helsinki - RoPS Rovaniemi  1-1


2007 Yobe State gubernatorial election
The 2007 Yobe State gubernatorial election occurred on April 14, 2007. ANPP candidate Mamman Bello Ali won the election, defeating PDP Adamu Waziri and other candidates.


2007 Yobe State gubernatorial election, Results
Mamman Bello Ali from the ANPP won the election. He defeated Adamu Waziri of the PDP and others.


2007 Yobe State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 994,380.


2007 Yucatán gubernatorial election
The 2007 gubernatorial election in the Mexican state of Yucatán was held  on May 20, 2007, as part of the larger Yucatán state election. Ivonne Ortega Pacheco of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was elected Governor of Yucatán for a six-year term.


2007 Yucatán state election
Local elections were held in the Mexican state of  Yucatán on May 20, 2007. Voters went to the polls to elect on the local level:


2007 Yucatán state election, Gubernatorial election
Nine political parties participated in the 2007 Yucatán state election, originally three parties (PRD, C and PT) decided to run together as a coalition but on February 11, 2007, the PRD decided to withdraw their support to the Convergence-Labor Party candidate.


2007 Yucatán state election, Gubernatorial election
After losing the candidacy in the PAN primaries, Ana Rosa Payán accepted the candidacy for the Todos Somos Yucatán coalition. 15 members of the PAN were also incarcerated after removing advertising material supporting non-PAN candidates and for exchanging cash for voting cards.


2007 Yucatán state election, Gubernatorial election
Opposition parties had accused both the federal and state governments of using public funds and publicly funded programs to support the PAN candidate. In response to this issue, the federal government decided to freeze all social programs on May 14, 2007, until after the elections.


2007 Yuen Long District Council election
The 2007 Yuen Long District Council election was held on 18 November 2007 to elect all 29 elected members to the 42-member District Council.


2007 Zahedan bombings
The 2007 Zahedan bombings occurred from 14–17 February in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Iran. While Jundallah claimed responsibility, the Iranian government has accused the governments of United States of complicity. The first bombing occurred at 6:30 a.m. on February 14 when a car filled with explosives stopped in front of a bus carrying Revolutionary Guards in Ahmadabad district. The car exploded, killing 18 and injuring 31 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
A car filled with explosives stopped in front of a bus full of Revolutionary Guards in Ahmadabad district, Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province at 6:30 a.m. on 14 February 2007. The car, parked in the middle of the road, forced the bus to stop. The car's driver and passengers then got out of the car and used motorbikes to leave the scene while they shot at the bus. A few seconds later the bombs exploded, killing 18 Guards. A number of Zahedan residents demonstrated in the streets, holding the coffins of the victims of the first bombing, chanting "death to hypocrites."


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
Guards commander Qasem Rezaei said, "This blind terrorist operation led to the martyrdom of 18 citizens of Zahedan." Rezaei attributed the attack to "insurgents and elements of insecurity." Majid Razavi, an Interior Ministry official, said Iranian police arrested a suspect within an hour of the bombing. Five days later, the authorities announced the execution of Nasrollah Shanbezehi. He was hanged in public at the site of the bombing. He was said to have been tried and sentenced by a branch of the Revolutionary Court after his televised confession.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
In one of the pictures of his execution, where the noose is being placed around his neck, a bruise is clearly visible above his right eye. In his confession, he reportedly said that he had joined PRMI\Jundallah three months previously, solely for financial reward, but other sources say that he was arrested because he was taking a picture of the bus with his mobile phone.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
Jundallah claimed responsibility for the attack on 15 February. The Iranian government has arrested five suspects, two of whom were carrying camcorders and grenades when they were arrested, while the police killed the main "agent" of the attack. Among the arrestees was Said Qanbarzehi, a Balochi, who was hanged in Zahedan prison on 27 May 2007.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
He had been sentenced to death at the age of 17 along with six other Balochi men—Javad Naroui, Masoud Nosratzehi, Houshang Shahnavazi, Yahya Sohrabzehi, Ali Reza Brahoui and Abdalbek Kahrazehi (also known as Abdalmalek) – in March 2007, despite the absolute international prohibition on the execution of child offenders. Balochi sources suggest that the seven may have been arrested because of their family ties to those suspected of involvement in the February bus bombing.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
According to Sistan-Baluchistan Provincial Television, 15–17 March 2007, Said Qanbarzehi and the six others all confessed to a number of crimes that allegedly took place in Sistan-Baluchistan province. Some reports suggest that those who confessed were tortured, including by having bones in their hands and feet broken, by being “"branded”" with a red-hot iron, and by having an electric drill applied to their limbs, shredding their muscles.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing
Following publication of an interview in ‘Ayyaran newspaper, which has since been closed down on the order of Hojjatoleslam Nekunam, on 17 March 2007 Hossein Ali Shahriari (Zahedan's representative in parliament), stated that there were around 700 people awaiting execution in Sistan-Baluchistan province, whose sentences had been confirmed by the Supreme Court.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing, Reaction
Brigadier General Mohammad Jaffari said on 15 February that the government had arrested 68 people in connection with the bombing. The spokesman for Javier Solana, the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, said, "We condemn the car bomb attack on Wednesday in Zahedan. Acts of terrorism can never be justified. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the victims and to the Iranian government." The United Nations Security Council condemned the bombing through a press statement, saying that nothing justifies terrorism.


2007 Zahedan bombings, First bombing, Reaction
Peter Burian, Slovakia's ambassador to the United Nations and President of the Security Council, said, "They underlined the need to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this terrorist attack, as with all terrorist attacks." United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the attack and gave his condolences to the Iranian government and the families of the victims. The Georgian Foreign Ministry also condemned the bombing.


2007 Zahedan bombings, Second bombing
Jundallah militants set off a percussion bomb in a girls school on 17 February shortly after the funeral for those killed in the first bombing. Hasan Ali Nouri, governor of Zahedan, said the bomb was a "sound bomb explosion." It wounded one person. Militants then shot at an electricity plant, successfully cutting off power, before fleeing to a house in Zahedan.


2007 Zahedan bombings, Second bombing
Fars news agency, which is an Iranian state run agency, reported "The insurgents began shooting at people after the explosion. Clashes are continuing between police and the armed insurgents. Police have cordoned off the area."


2007 Zahedan bombings, Second bombing
The Iranian government summoned Pakistani ambassador Shafkat Saeed. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said, "The Pakistani ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry to give explanations. Discussions were undertaken and a committee was formed between the two countries to reinforce border security." The investigation and the confessions show that foreigners are implicated in these actions.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections
Local elections was held in  Zamboanga City on May 14, 2007, within the Philippine general election. The voters elected for the elective local posts in the city: the mayor, vice mayor, and eight councilors per district. Previously, the city voters elected 12 councilors and one representative from its lone district.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Political changes
Since 1984, Zamboanga City is represented in the national Congress by one representative. All things changed in 2004 when the lone district was divided into 2 districts by virtue of Republic Act No. 9269 on March 19, 2004. Veterans Avenue is the dividing line of the two districts.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Mayoral and vice mayoral elections
Monsignor Crisanto dela Cruz formed a coalition named Nuevo Zamboanga under the banner of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to run against the incumbent administrator of Mayor Celso Lobregat of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. Lobregat picked incumbent Councilor Milabel Velasquez as his running mate while dela Cruz picked activist Atty. Victor Solis as his running mate.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results
The candidates for district representative, mayor, and vice mayor with the most votes wins the seat; they are voted separately, therefore, they may be of different parties when elected.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results
District I City Election Officer Roel Bengua, also chairman of the City Board of Canvassers, proclaimed Mayor Celso Lobregat retaining his post, incumbent Councilor Mannix Dalipe as Vice-Mayor, incumbent Vice-Mayor Beng Climaco as District I Representative, Congressman Erbie Fabian as District II Representative, and the 16 City Councilors.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results, House of Representatives election, 1st District
Incumbent Vice-Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco is running for the post against neophyte politician Edilberto Gonzales.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results, House of Representatives election, 2nd District
Incumbent Representative Erico Basilio Fabian is running for a second term.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results, Mayoral elections
Incumbent Mayor Celso Lobregat is running for his second term.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results, Vice-mayoral elections
Incumbent Vice-Mayor Beng Climaco is running for District I Representative. Councilor Mila Velasquez was Mayor Lobregat's running-mate against Monsi dela Cruz' candidate, Atty. Vic Solis.


2007 Zamboanga City local elections, Results, City Council elections
Each of Zamboanga City's two legislative districts elects eight councilors to the City Council. The eight candidates with the most votes wins the seats per district.


2007 Zamfara State gubernatorial election
The 2007 Zamfara State gubernatorial election occurred on April 14, 2007. ANPP candidate Mahmud Shinkafi won the election, defeating PDP Yahaya Abdulkarim and other candidates.


2007 Zamfara State gubernatorial election, Results
Mahmud Shinkafi from the ANPP won the election. He defeated Yahaya Abdulkarim of the PDP and others.


2007 Zamfara State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,330,572.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster
The 2007 Zasyadko mine disaster was a mining accident that happened on November 18, 2007 at the Zasyadko coal mine (Ukrainian: Шахта ім. Засядько) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster
By November 30, 101 miners were reported dead:the worst accident in Ukraine's history. At the time of the explosion, 457 miners were in the complex.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Causes and investigation
The accident was caused by a methane explosion located more than 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) below ground level.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Causes and investigation
The Zasyadko Mine is considered one of the most dangerous coal mines in the world, An independent mining expert recently claimed that the company management, linked to a powerful local clan, interferes with hazard-measuring equipment on a permanent basis, in order to present underground situation as being within the safety standards, and so to prevent production from closure by the government inspectors. President Viktor Yushchenko blamed the cabinet for failing to “implement safe mining practices” in the coal industry. A criminal investigation is also underway.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Government reaction
Families of the deceased miners will receive compensations totaling 100,000 hryvnias, (approx. $20,000 USD) which constitutes part of the 15 million hryvnias that the Cabinet of Ministers has set aside for renovation of the mine which would prevent future accidents from happening.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Government reaction
On November 19, 2007, President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree that calls for investigation into Zasyadko mine disaster as well as prevention of such disasters in the future. The President also signed a decree making November 20 a Day of National Mourning.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Mining accidents trend
Within the past decade, the frequency of mining accidents has increased in the Donbas coal region. The Zasyadko mine accident is the deadliest ever accident in Ukraine, surpassing the Barakova Mine accident in 2000, which killed at least 80 workers.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Mining accidents trend
The Zasyadko Mine, Ukraine's largest and most equipped mine, employs 10,000 people and produces up to 10,000 tons of coal per day. Prior to this, four previous major mining accidents at the mine had killed a total of 148 workers combined.


2007 Zasyadko mine disaster, Mining accidents trend, Recurring accidents
Twelve days later, on December 1, 2007, at 5:55 local time another methane explosion happened in the same mine section injuring 52 miners. After this, at 21:20 local time on December 2, another explosion occurred, killing at least 5 workers and injuring 30 more.


2007 Zell am See mid-air collision
The 2007 Zell am See mid-air collision was an aviation accident that occurred on 5 March 2007, at 10:53 a.m. CET (09:53 UTC), in which eight people died when an Aérospatiale SA 332 Super Puma helicopter, operated by Helog, collided with a private Diamond DV20 Katana light aircraft near Zell am See, Austria.


2007 Zell am See mid-air collision
At the time of the accident, both aircraft were operating under visual flight rules. The weather was good, with a few clouds and 50 km visibility. The collision occurred at an altitude of about 5,090 feet (1,550 m), approximately 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) north-west of Zell am See Airport, as the helicopter flew over the airport's traffic pattern travelling north-north-eastwards. At the same time, the light aircraft was climbing through the traffic pattern and was subsequently involved in a collision with the helicopter, destroying both aircraft.


2007 Zell am See mid-air collision
The Austrian Federal Department of Aviation's Air Accident Investigation Board launched an investigation into the accident, releasing the investigation report on 9 April 2008. The report stated that the main cause of the accident was the inability of both pilots to see the other aircraft in time to avoid the collision as a result of the reduced fields of vision allowed by the cockpit designs. Another factor in the collision was the subtle limitations on visual perception relating in part to the proximity of the mountain slope not far below both aircraft, requiring both pilots' attention to maintain suitable terrain clearance.


2007 Zhani-Vedeno ambush
The 2007 Zhani-Vedeno ambush occurred on 7 October when a convoy of vehicles carrying local Russian interior ministry soldiers and policemen was ambushed in the volatile Vedeno region of Chechnya. The ambush resulted in the deaths of at least four soldiers and the hospitalisation of 10 to 16. It was carried out under the command of Amir Aslambek, and was one of the deadliest attacks in several months.


2007 Zhani-Vedeno ambush
According to an article by Kommersant, the convoy of a dozen armored military trucks and armored personnel carriers carrying detachments of local police officers and servicemen from the Akhmad Kadyrov Patrol Police Regiment-2 and the South (Yug) Battalion of Internal Troops (both composed of Kadyrovtsy) was reinforcing forces involved in the clearance operation in the village of Dargo, a bastion of the resistance to Russian rule for 300 years.


2007 Zhani-Vedeno ambush
According to the separatist website Chechenpress, the ambush and subsequent fighting resulted in the deaths of 25 soldiers (10 to 16 from the ambush) and one rebel. The Russian sources also said a body of fighter was found in Dargo.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt
The Zimbabwean government claimed to have foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt involving almost 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military that would have occurred on June 2 or June 15, 2007. The alleged leaders of the coup, all of whom were arrested, were retired army Captain Albert Matapo, Colonel Ben Ncube, Major General Engelbert Rugeje, and Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt
According to the government, the soldiers planned on forcibly removing President Robert Mugabe from office and asking Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to form a government with the heads of the armed forces.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt
Some analysts have speculated that rival successors to Mugabe, such as former Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army leader Solomon Mujuru, were possibly trying to discredit Mnangagwa.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt
Treason charges were laid against Matapo and other civilians, but no treason trial ever took place, for lack of evidence. However seven men (including Matapo, but not Ncube, Rugeje or Moyo), who were allegedly only trying to form a new political party, were held in prison for seven years (and allegedly severely tortured beforehand) before being released in 2014, and subsequently founding their new party.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt
Ncube, Rugeje, and Moyo were all reported under house arrest in June 2007, but all remained in the army.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt
Mnangagwa remained in office, and eventually replaced Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe after a successful coup d'etat in November 2017.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, May arrest
The Zimbabwean government claimed to have foiled an alleged coup d'état attempt involving almost 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military that would have occurred on June 2 or June 15, 2007. The alleged leaders of the coup, all of whom were arrested, were retired army Captain Albert Matapo, Spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Army Colonel Ben Ncube, Major General Engelbert Rugeje (Quartermaster at Army HQ), and Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo (deputy commander of the air force).


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, May arrest
According to the government, the soldiers planned on forcibly removing President Robert Mugabe from office and asking Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to form a government with the heads of the armed forces. The government first heard of the plot when a former army officer who opposed the coup contacted the police in Paris, France, giving them a map and a list of those involved. Mnangagwa and State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa both said they did not know about the plot, Mnangagwa calling it "stupid."


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, May arrest
Some analysts have speculated that rival successors to Mugabe, such as former Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army leader Solomon Mujuru, were possibly trying to discredit Mnangagwa.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, May arrest
Gilbert Kagodora, treasurer for the Movement for Democratic Change political party in Mashonaland Central, said he and Matapo were arrested by men whom he suspected work for the Central Intelligence Organization at 2:PM on May 29 in Harare.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, May arrest
We had gone to meet Matapo for business together with three other party activists at Winston Court along Fourth Street. Initially, they told us that we were being arrested for dealing in foreign currency and they then proceeded to blindfold us with masking tape. They also tied our hands and took us into a van downstairs. I could not tell exactly where they were driving us to.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, May arrest
Kagodora said he and Matapo were put in a basement where he believed Military Intelligence Unit officials tortured him, using electrical rods to elicit confessions. Interrogators asked about MDC terror camps in South Africa, leaders and financiers of the plot, petrol bombers in the MDC, and the Democratic Resistance Committee. On June 1 Kagodora came into the custody of the Law and Order section at Harare Central Police Station. He said he heard interrogators asking Matapo to reveal the names of army and police officers with ties to the coup d'état. Police released Kagadora on June 4.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
Several men, either on active duty or retired from the Zimbabwe National Army, were arrested between May 29 and early June. They were present in secret court hearings twice in which family members and journalists were not allowed to attend. The case was heard by the High Court.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
Prosecutors accuse Albert Matapo of leading the coup and trying to "recruit as many soldiers as possible to take over the government and all camps and be in control of the nation after which he will announce to the nation that he was in control of government and would invite Minister Mnangagwa and service chiefs to form a government." Albert Rugowe, formerly an officer in the army, was accused of recruiting military officials for the coup. Captain Shepherd Maromo and Olivine Morale were also on trial.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
According to a military source in Harare, the coup leaders allegedly contacted Western governments and asked them if they would support the coup. "The general feedback was that the western countries would publicly condemn the coup and privately support it only if it would restore democracy in Zimbabwe."


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
Treason charges were laid against Matapo and other civilians, but no treason trial ever took place, for lack of evidence. However seven men, former Army Captain Albert Matapo (who had retired from the army 16 years earlier in 1991), and six others, Emmanuel Marara, Oncemore Mudzurahona, Partson Mupfure, Nyasha Zivuku, Rangarirai Mazivofa and Shingirai Webster Mutemachani, ended up spending seven years in Chikurubi Prison, before being released on March 1, 2014. Matapo claimed they were severely tortured during interrogation, including electrocution  to the genitals.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
He said they were not attempting a coup, and had no interest in supporting Mnangagwa (whom he deemed as bad as Mugabe, and potentially even worse than him), but were simply trying to form a political party,  now called United Crusade for Achieving Democracy (UCAD), which was eventually launched by them in Harare on August 1, 2014.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
Senior officers reportedly under house arrest in June 2007, such as Colonel Ben Ncube, Major-General Engelbert Rugeje and Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo, remained in the army.


2007 Zimbabwean alleged coup d'état attempt, Charges and aftermath
Emmerson Mnangagwa remained in office, and 10 years later was sworn in as President of Zimbabwe on 24 November 2017, after the resignation of Robert Mugabe following the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état, a removal that was however recognized by the African Union as a legitimate expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people.


2007 Zimbabwean political crisis
A political crisis began in Zimbabwe on 11 March 2007 when opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was beaten and tortured after being arrested, prompting widespread domestic and international criticism.


2007 Zoé's Ark controversy
The 2007 Zoé's Ark controversy started when members of a French charity organization, the Zoé's Ark (French: L'Arche de Zoé), attempted to fly 103 children out of Chad to France. The members of the charity were charged and eventually convicted of child abduction.


2007 Zoé's Ark controversy, Events and trial
On 30 October 2007, six members of the charity organization Zoé's Ark were formally charged by the government of Chad for child abduction. Despite the group's claim that the children were orphans from Darfur who were being taken to be fostered in France, most of the 103 children were found to be Chadian, and to have had at least one living parent or guardian. Three journalists, seven Spanish Girjet flight crew members, four Chadian and Sudanese nationals, including two Chadian officials, were also charged for complicity.


2007 Zoé's Ark controversy, Events and trial
Allegedly, some parents were convinced to give up their infants for promises of schooling, but had been told that the schooling would occur in Chad rather than France, while some children were offered sweets and biscuits to leave home. These claims were denied by the aid workers.


2007 Zoé's Ark controversy, Events and trial
The incident strained Franco-Chadian relations, ahead of a planned deployment of French peacekeeping troops into the country. Anti - French protests were staged within Chad.


2007 Zoé's Ark controversy, Events and trial
Over the course of the trial, all six aid workers participated in a hunger strike. Possibly as a result, one of the accused fainted in court and required hospitalization. The six were protesting at what they perceived as abandonment by French authorities.


2007 Zoé's Ark controversy, Events and trial
French president Nicolas Sarkozy successfully negotiated the dropping of charges and release of the journalists and flight crew members prior to trial. Six members of the group were convicted on 26 December 2007 and sentenced to eight years of forced labor, although they, ultimately, were instead incarcerated for five months in France, which has no forced labor in its penal system, under an accord between Chad and France. The six were released in March 2008 but were ordered to pay each of the 103 victims restitution equal to approximately $87,000, which amounts to $8.9M per defendant. A Chadian national and a Sudanese national were each also sentenced to four years. The two Chadian officials were acquitted. In March 2008 the president of Chad pardoned the convicted aid-workers, and they were released from the prisons in France.


2007 Zuiderduin Masters
The 2007 Zuiderduin Masters was a darts tournament held at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, run by the British Darts Organisation and the World Darts Federation. It was the first edition of the tournament since the sponsorship of the event was taken over by the Hotel Zuiderduin to become the Zuiderduin Masters. A new tournament format was also introduced. It was also the last year the tournament was held as an unranked event and a men's only competition.


2007 Zuiderduin Masters
The last winner of the event, Mervyn King in 2005 as no event was held in 2006, was absent from the field as he had transferred over to the PDC earlier in the year. Martin Adams, the BDO World Champion, was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Gary Robson. The number one seed Gary Anderson defeated Mark Webster in the final, 5–4 in sets, to win the event for the first time. He added this event to his successes at the International Darts League and the World Darts Trophy in May and September.


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
all matches best of 9 legs.P = Played; W = Won; L = Lost; LF = Legs For; LA = Legs Against; +/- = Leg Difference; Pts = Points


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Martin Atkins  5–1 Robert Wagner Gary Anderson  5–1  Robert Wagner Gary Anderson  5–3  Martin Atkins


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Remco van Eijden  5–0 Ted Hankey Ted Hankey  5–2  Niels de Ruiter Remco van Eijden  5–2  Niels de Ruiter


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
John Walton  5–3 Mario Robbe Darryl Fitton  5–0 Mario Robbe Darryl Fitton  5–2 John Walton


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Steve West  5–2 Joey ten Berge Scott Waites  5–4 Joey ten Berge Steve West  5–2 Steve West


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Phil Nixon  5–3 Steve Coote Martin Adams  5–0 Steve Coote Martin Adams  5–0 Phil Nixon


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Martin Phillips  5–3 Tony O'Shea Tony O'Shea  5–3 Gary Robson Gary Robson  5–2 Martin Phillips


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Shaun Greatbatch  5–0 Edwin Max Mark Webster  5–1 Edwin Max Mark Webster  5–3 Shaun Greatbatch


2007 Zuiderduin Masters, Results, Group Stage
Mark Barilli  5–0 Andy Fordham Co Stompé  5–0 Andy Fordham Co Stompé  5–3 Mark Barilli


2007 Zurich Open
2007 Zurich Open was a Tier I tennis event on the 2007 WTA Tour.


2007 Zurich Open
Justine Henin won her second title here, her first coming in 2003. Tatiana Golovin reached her first Tier I tournament final.


2007 Zurich Open, Finals, Doubles
Květa Peschke /  Rennae Stubbs defeated  Lisa Raymond /  Francesca Schiavone, 7-5, 7-6(7–1)


2007 Zurich Open – Doubles
2007 Zurich Open – Doubles is the women's doubles tennis competition in the 2007 Zurich Open. Květa Peschke and Rennae Stubbs won in the final 7–5, 7–6(7–1) against Lisa Raymond and Francesca Schiavone.


2007 Zurich Open – Singles
Maria Sharapova was the defending champion, but withdrew due to right shoulder injury.


2007 Zurich Open – Singles
Justine Henin won in the final, beating Tatiana Golovin 6–4, 6–4.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing
The 2007 al-Askari mosque bombing (Arabic: تفجير مسجد العسكري) occurred on 13 June 2007 at around 9 am local time at one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, the al-Askari Mosque, and has been attributed by Iran to the Iraqi Baath Party. While there were no injuries or deaths reported, the mosque's two ten-story minarets were destroyed in the attacks. This was the second bombing of the mosque, with the first bombing occurring on 22 February 2006 and destroying the mosque's golden dome.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, The bombing
At around 9 am on 13 June 2007, insurgents destroyed the two remaining ten-story tall golden minarets flanking the ruins of the dome of the Al-Askari Mosque. The mosque compound and minarets had been closed since the 2006 bombing and no fatalities were reported. Iraqi police reported hearing "two nearly simultaneous explosions coming from inside the mosque compound at around 9 am" Local residents reported blasts that shook the city and sent a cloud of dust into the air.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, The bombing
While it has been stated that "the collapse of the two minarets appeared to have been caused by explosive charges placed at their bases", different reports have caused some confusion as to whether bombs were actually used. A release from state run Iraqia Television stated that "local officials said that two mortar rounds were fired at the two minarets", in addition "a government spokesman claimed the minarets were hit by rockets".


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, The bombing
It has been noted that the attack was one in a string of bombings in 2007 against major Shi'ite shrines, including two car bomb attacks in Karbala: one near the Imam Husayn Shrine (which killed 36 people and wounded 168) and the other near the Imam Abbas shrine, the second-holiest site in Shi'ite Islam, which killed at least 58 people and wounded 169.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Events around changing of the guard
Since the 2006 bombing of the al-Askari shrine, it had been under protection of local guards who were predominantly Sunni. Both American military and Iraqi security officials were worried that the guards had been infiltrated by Al Qaeda forces in Iraq. To counter this the Ministry of Interior in Baghdad were bringing in a new guard unit – predominantly Shiite. This changing of the guard is believed to have had some role in the timing of the attack.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Events around changing of the guard
Abdul Sattar Abdul Jabbar, a prominent Sunni cleric, told Al Jazeera television that local Sunnis may have been provoked as he claimed "the new guards had arrived at the shrine shouting sectarian slogans". Gunfire was reported around the shrine before the attack, "which may have been related to the change of guards." Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stated that Policemen at the shrine (15 of them according to US military sources) had been detained for questioning along with "an unspecified number of other suspects."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Events around changing of the guard
It was confirmed that "the entire Iraqi security force responsible for guarding the mosque, the 3rd Battalion of the Salahuddin province police, was detained for investigation." The Interior Ministry would only tell reporters that agents of "a terrorist group" had been arrested and were under interrogation. On Sunday 17 June 2007 Iraqi forces captured four additional suspects and their raid "also turned up a compact disc showing attacks on U.S.-led troops, blasting caps and detonation wire, identification cards for access to al-Askari mosque and photographs depicting terrorist training exercises."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki's address and the U.S. military response
In the afternoon after the attack Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed Iraqi national television. Standing before the flag of Iraq he said "I call on all civilians and believers and clergy to talk to people about the necessity of self-control and wisdom to foil the scheme of those evil ones who want to make use of this crime for political reasons." He then read a quote from a prayer of Abraham found in the Qur'an "God, make this country safe and send its people your blessed rewards."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki's address and the U.S. military response
The day of the attack al-Maliki asked Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker to send American reinforcements to Samarra, and to put U.S. troops in Baghdad on heightened alert. Both American officials issued a joint statement saying "This brutal action on one of Iraq's holiest shrines is a deliberate attempt by al-Qaeda to sow dissent and inflame sectarian strife among the people of Iraq." Petraeus told reporters that al-Qaeda's agents probably acted because they "are under a fair amount of pressure. I think they know that we are going to contest some of the areas in which they have had sanctuaries in the past."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki's address and the U.S. military response
There were already a few hundred U.S. troops stationed around Samarra before the attack, though they rarely entered the shrine's perimeter leaving its protection to Iraqi forces. After making his request Al-Maliki traveled to Samarra accompanied by U.S. troops under Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to visit the ruins of the mosque. General Petraeus later stated that they were also "helping to move reinforcements to Samarra from the Iraqi national police."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki's address and the U.S. military response
U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver stated that the US military in Iraq is "obviously very concerned about this and our primary goal is to prevent any violence of the kind that broke out after the last bombing." Presidential spokesman Tony Snow said "there will be aggressive outreach on all sides" by American officials to try to head off any further violence.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani's call
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemned the bombing but called on "believers to exercise self-restraint and avoid any vengeful act that would target innocent people or the holy places of others". Sistani later condemned reprisal attacks on Sunni mosques in the southern city of Basra (see below), demanding a halt to such violence. His spokesman Hamed al-Khafaf stated "He heavily condemns the attacks against the mosques of Talha ben Obaida Alla and al-Eshra al Mubashera in Basra. He calls on believers to prevent, as much as they can, such attacks from taking place on mosques and shrines".


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Sadrist reactions
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for peaceful demonstrations and three days of mourning. He stated that he believed no Sunni Arab could have been behind the attack. He ruled out the possibility that it was done by Muslims, declaring that it was "done at the hands of the occupation." He said "We declare a three-day mourning period . . . and shout Allahu Akbar from Sunni and Shiite mosques." Sadr criticized the Iraqi government for failing to protect the site, and said the U.S. occupation is "the only enemy of Iraq" and "that's why everyone must demand its departure". Sadr called the attack part of a "U.S. and Israeli plan to split Iraq's unity."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Sadrist reactions
Throughout Baghdad and across much of Iraq, loudspeakers from Shiite mosques called for demonstrations. At Najaf over 3,000 al-Sadr loyalists staged a protest, shouting "No, no to America! ", "No, no to Israel!" and "No, no to sedition!"


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Sadrist reactions
Sadr's 30-member bloc immediately suspended any participation in parliament out of protest to the bombing, and resolved to not participate "until the government takes realistic steps to rebuild the Askariya shrine" (they also called for the rebuilding of all damaged Shiite and Sunni mosques). This action by the Sadrists is seen as a further blow to the already weakened al-Maliki government and will further impede the legislative process towards national reconciliation in Iraq.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Sadrist reactions
Maliki had just the day before been visited by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte who pressured him for quicker results against sectarian violence, and on Sunday 10 June 2007 Admiral William J. Fallon told al-Maliki that an increasing number of U.S. Congressmen were opposed to continuing to give aid to Iraq, and also opposed to maintaining the American military presence there, and that if the Iraqi government wanted to counter that mounting opposition, it needed to be making progress, by July.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Sadrist reactions
Sadr's position has been viewed as one of the reasons that the spiraling violence that followed the 2006 bombing was not immediately repeated. His Al Mahdi militia was largely blamed for much of the 2006 violence but it has followed his line in blaming US and Israeli agents for the 2007 bombing. One of Sadr's spokesmen Salman Fraiji repeated such claims of conspiracy, saying "To split the [Suni and Shiite] Muslims is a card that the occupation is playing.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Reactions in Iraq, Sadrist reactions
The ill-intentioned colonizers have an old saying: 'divide and conquer.'" Many experts see Sadr's increase of anti-American rhetoric as "an effort to position himself for a powerful political role when U.S. forces leave Iraq." Vali Nasr, a Middle East expert at the Naval Postgraduate School expanded on this saying "Since the start in February of the U.S. military crackdown in Baghdad and environs, Sadr has been uncharacteristically subdued, an indication that he is waiting for U.S. forces to leave before reclaiming a prominent role. Definitely there is a sort of strategy in play, which is 'wait and see.' Sadr, unlike the U.S. troops, faces no deadline pressure."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews
On the day of the bombing an indefinite curfew was placed on Samarra by the Iraqi police. Samarra's streets were emptied by mid-afternoon after the arrival of more police and American troops. For the remainder of the day Iraqi security forces patrolled Samarra "firing in the air and announcing the curfew from loudspeakers mounted on jeeps. ... Members of the Iraqi security forces, which are dominated by Shiites, yelled threats at Samarra residents, blaming them for the destruction of the mosque and threatening revenge. Some citizens, meanwhile, hurled remarks back, asking how anyone could destroy the minarets when the entire religious complex was being so carefully guarded by Iraqi security forces."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews
Beginning at 3 pm of the same day, a curfew was also placed on vehicle traffic and large gatherings in the capital Baghdad. The Baghdad curfew had originally been set to expire on Saturday 16 June 2007, it was lifted at 5 am (0100 GMT) on Sunday 17 June.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Retaliatory attacks
According to Iraqi police, on the day of the bombing before the curfew in the capital could take hold, arsonists set a Sunni mosque ablaze in the neighborhood of Bayaa in western Baghdad. A Shiite shrine was also bombed north of Baghdad and four Sunni mosques near Baghdad were also attacked or burned. In Iskandariyah, south of the capital, two Sunni mosques were bombed (one being demolished the other losing its minaret)


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Retaliatory attacks
In the city of Basra four people were slain and six wounded in attacks with rocket-propelled grenades on the Kawaz, Othman, al-Abayshi and Basra Grand mosques. Visitors to the Talha Ibn Obeidallah mosque in Zubeir, west of Basra, got past Iraqi police by claiming they wanted to film the mosque but placed bombs instead and then detonated them after leaving. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki upon learning of events in Basra placed the city under indefinite curfew, and arrested a number of Iraqi security forces from there. He later fired Basra's police chief after witnesses reported local police did little to stop the attacks on the mosques.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Retaliatory attacks
There were also reports that within the capital, in the New Baghdad neighborhood, a local Shiite mosque loudspeaker issued calls to Mahdi Army guerrillas and blamed U.S. troops for the attack. The Mahdi guerrillas then cleared a marketplace and called for reinforcements to fight nearby American soldiers. Witnesses told of explosions and smoke coming from the highway. In the upscale Mansour neighborhood, consisting predominately of Sunnis, gunfire was heard coming from an Iraqi army checkpoint set up to safeguard an often targeted Sunni mosque.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Retaliatory attacks
A Sunni mosque that had been attacked on 13 June was targeted again on 14 June 2007. The Hateen mosque in Iskandariyah, which had only been partly destroyed was broken into around 4 am by assailants who planted bombs. The resulting explosion demolished most of the building and wounded a woman and child in a nearby apartment building. An assault by gunmen against the nearby al-Mustafa mosque also occurred early that day but they were repelled by Iraqi soldiers. In the town of Mahaweel, south of Baghdad, gunmen opened fired on the al-Basheer mosque at dawn.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Retaliatory attacks
They drove off the guards and set fire to the building, causing partial damage. To the south of Baghdad, a mosque in the city of Tunis came under attack and Iraqi police found explosives in a mosque in Jabala. The Washington Post stated that during the time of the curfews "At least 13 Sunni mosques came under attack in Iraq".


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Retaliatory attacks
While five bodies were found in Baghdad on Thursday the 14th, "presumed victims of sectarian death squads", the curfew was credited with causing a reduction in killing as the usual number is five times that. The worst violence reported on Thursday in Baghdad was the seven mortar rounds fired against the Green Zone which killed three civilians.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Protests in Iraq
On Thursday 14 June 2007, hundreds of people marched in non-violent demonstrations in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, and in the Shiite dominated cities of Kut, Diwaniyah, Najaf and Basra.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
At the lifting of the Baghdad curfew the U.S. military reported it had captured 20 suspected insurgents and killed 14 others in separate operations over the weekend. It was noted that the curfew was lifted a day after Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno admitted that security forces have full control of only 40 percent of the capital, which is now in the fifth month of the Iraq War troop surge of 2007.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
When the Baghdad curfew was lifted at 5 am (0100 GMT) on Sunday, 17 June, residents traveling on the streets were caught in a huge traffic jam "spawned by hundreds of new police and army checkpoints". The ban on vehicle traffic had also led to a lack of delivery trucks moving within the city causing steep price hikes in everything from fuel to fresh food. There were also increased power outages as the large number of people confined to their homes increased electrical usage, resulting in power for only four hours of the day.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
The lines for gasoline to run vehicles and generators "stretched for a mile or longer, in some cases weaving around several blocks, stretching from main roads deep into side streets. Black marketeers, some of them boys as young as 10, positioned their jerry cans of gas near the lines, charging three times the pump price." Accusations of price gouging were made by many citizens. "Vendors weaved between cars waiting in traffic, selling paper fans, soft drinks and tissues to mop brows dripping in temperatures that hit 112."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
While police commandos on "pickup trucks mounted with machine guns" speed through the streets "with sirens blaring and headlights flashing", they did follow government orders "to stop shooting in the air to clear traffic or warn motorists coming too close." As several bridges to the Sunni-dominated Karkh area and the Shiite majority Rusafa neighborhood have been targeted in the recent past, security was especially stiff on bridges where Iraq forces searching for truck bombs. In some areas, like Karkh, where al-Queda is believed to be active police and military checkpoints were just 100 yards apart or less.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
In often-targeted neighborhoods, like Mansour and Yarmouk, Iraqi soldiers were present behind concrete blast barriers. In the Sunni-dominated neighborhoods within the Azamiyah area in northern Baghdad, which are known for insurgent activity, "Iraqi troops in combat gear patrolled the streets in armored cars. Soviet-era tanks were stationed on major roads and intersections. Much of Azamiyah was almost deserted, with most stores shuttered and little traffic on the streets." By contrast the Shiite dominated enclave of Kasrah within that same area "was buzzing with shoppers in open-air markets. Kebab stands were doing a big business."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
Drastic differences were evident throughout Baghdad from one neighborhood to the next. For while in Karkh there were "stores shuttered and barbed wire or tree trunks blocking access to residential side roads. Row after row of houses seem abandoned and, in some parts, snipers fired randomly at pedestrians and cars", by contrast the streets of the heavily Shiite Karradah district in central Baghdad were crowded with shoppers and everything "appeared back to normal".


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
While the government ordered higher security around the mosques of Baghdad a lack of increased security was reported around the major Sunni mosque al-Nidaa in northern Baghdad. Nor was there any noticed increase in security around Abdul-Qader al-Jilani mosque, which is "one of Iraq's holiest Sunni sites and the target of a recent bombing ... [ and is] located in a small Sunni quarter surrounded by Shiite neighborhoods where the Mahdi Army militia, blamed for much of the sectarian violence, is active."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
Thirty-seven bodies slain by sectarian violence were reported in Baghdad on the day of the lifting of the curfew.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Lifting of the Baghdad curfew
Two days after the curfew was lifted the Al-Khilani Mosque bombing took place in Baghdad.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Under the curfews, Relaxing of Samarra curfew
The 24-hour curfew in Samarra was relaxed on Saturday, 16 June but movement was restricted from 8 pm until 7 am on the afternoon of Monday 18 June 2007 four people were slain in the city when a suicide bomber drove his explosive laden car into a school being used to house police officers.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, International reaction, United Nations
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called on "all Iraqis to avoid succumbing to the vicious cycle of revenge and to exercise maximum restraint while demonstrating unity and resolve in the face of this terrible attack."


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, International reaction, Iran
On the day of the bombing, in predominantly Shia Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blamed the U.S. for failing to prevent the bombing. He threatened to halt regional cooperation which many see as integral to ending the spiraling violence in Iraq.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, International reaction, Bahrain
Also on the 13th in the nearby nation of Bahrain members of the Shiite ethnic majority marched through the streets of the capital Manama in protest of the bombing. In two back to back marches, demonstrators blamed both al-Qaeda and the U.S. shouting "Death to America" and "No to Terrorism." After the 2006 bombing more than 100,000 Bahrainis also demonstrated.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, International reaction, India
Syed Ali Nasir Saeed Abaqati a leading Shia cleric from Lucknow, India held al-Qaeda responsible for destruction of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, International reaction, India
On 14 June 2007 in the Indian administrated territory of Kashmir over 500 Shiite demonstrators demonstrated in response to the bombing by marching in the city of Srinagar. They carried black flags, copies of the Qur'an, shouted anti-American slogans, such as "Down with Bush, down with US", and burned effigies of President George W. Bush. Demonstrator Haidar Ali told reporters "Our protest is against the bombing, against the American occupation of Iraq which has led to bombing." There were further demonstrations in other towns across Kashmir.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Perpetrators
The U.S. military announced on 14 June 2007 that it had "detained 25 suspects in raids against al-Qaida in Iraq over the past two days." This included a suspect "believed to be a close associate of Omar al-Baghdadi, who headed al-Qaida's Islamic State in Iraq." On 16 June 2007 three American troops were killed by explosions near their vehicles – two in Baghdad and one at Kirkuk province.


2007 al-Askari mosque bombing, Perpetrators
The alleged mastermind of both the minaret bombings and the February 2006 blasts, Haitham al-Badri, was killed in August 2007 by a U.S. airstrike.


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing
The al-Khilani mosque bombing occurred on 19 June 2007 when a truck bomb exploded in front of the Shia Al-Khilani Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq. At least 78 people were killed and another 218 injured in the blast. The explosion occurred just two days after a four-day curfew banning vehicle movement in the city was lifted after the al-Askari Mosque bombing (2007), and just hours after 10,000 US troops began the Arrowhead Ripper offensive to the north of Baghdad. Because the site was a Shia mosque, the bombing is presumed to have been the work of Sunnis. The Sinak area where the explosion took place was also the targeted by a suicide car bomber on 28 May 2007, which resulted in 21 deaths.


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, Significance of the mosque
The al-Khulani mosque was named by the Shia in honor of one of their revered four "earthly" deputies anointed by the Imam Mohammed al-Mahdi (the so-called "Hidden Imam" who disappeared in the 9th century).


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, The attack
Iraq Police said a truck stacked with electric fans and air conditioners was used to deliver the bomb to a parking lot near the Khulani mosque. The U.S. military offered a different version of events, declaring that "the truck was loaded with propane tanks and that a suicide driver detonated his bomb when the vehicle became stuck trying to drive over a curb." A preliminary investigation indicated that the truck used in the attack "was rigged with TNT a little less than a mile from where it exploded". The bomb was set off around 1:45 pm local time (10:45 GMT) outside the mosque which is located in the busy Sinak commercial district of central Baghdad.


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, The attack
Jabbar Mohammed al-Kaissi, an eyewitness to the blast was across the street filling a five-liter gas can "when a truck carrying what he estimated was 60 canisters of gas exploded, sending canisters flying through the air, creating secondary explosions when they landed as far as 100 yards away." He saw a ball of fire rise into the air and turning back to see the car holding his wife and three daughters saw the wall of the mosque fall on it crushing and killing them. "I was frozen by the shock. As I rushed to the car to see if I could save any of them, the gas canisters started to explode one after the other."


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, The attack
Besides causing the collapse of the courtyard wall the explosion also destroyed a building just inside the mosque compound. The mosque sanctuary was damaged slightly and the mosque's turquoise dome remained standing. The blast badly burned many worshippers and the resulting rubble buried others. The mosque's imam, Sheik Saleh al-Haidari said the bomb was especially deadly as worshippers were just leaving a prayer service. At least 78 were slain and more than 218 were wounded. Six of the slain had lived in a house behind the mosque.


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, The attack
Twenty cars outside the mosque were incinerated and twenty-five nearby shops suffered damages from the attack. Imam Haidari went on to say "This attack was planned and carried out by sick souls", and that though he was not in the mosque at the time, his office and the room above collapsed in the explosion. Karim Abdullah an eyewitness who was headed to pray at the mosques reported "I stopped in shock as I saw the smoke and people on the ground. I saw two or three men in flames as they were getting out of their car."


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, The attack
Gunfire was heard in the area following the explosion. Iraqi state television showed "black smoke billowing above the skyline as people on the street screamed in anguish. …storefronts were crumbled and on fire, and more than a dozen nearby cars were set ablaze. Residents walked through the area collecting body parts and unrecognizable chunks of flesh." Many of the casualties were rushed to the nearby Al Kanadi, Al Sadr and Madinat Al Tob hospitals.


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, Reactions
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the attack he issued a statement blaming the attack on "takfiris and terrorists who are focused on violating the sanctuaries and killing innocent lives" and said "It shows the determination of Saddamists and Takfiris to ignite sectarian violence. [ The bombing] scarred the beautiful face of Baghdad by destroying the religious landmarks it has known over the centuries."


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, Reactions
The deaths at al-Khilani mosque rose the total of Baghdad deaths due to sectarian violence for Tuesday 19 June 2007 to 142 "a toll reflecting carnage associated with the months before the U.S. security crackdown in the capital began 14 February." The bombing was the deadliest single attack since a car bomb in a Shiite dominated market killed 127 in central Baghdad on 18 April 2007. Col. Christopher C. Garvera spokesman for the U.S. military, said the bombing "demonstrates why [the ongoing operation] Arrowhead Ripper and other operations we'll be conducting this summer are so important.


2007 al-Khilani mosque bombing, Reactions
We have to find the car bombs and suicide bombers to prevent this from happening." Iraqi Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta, said that the bombing is a sign of shifting tactics – instead of building vehicle bombs outside of the city "insurgents are now building car bombs inside Baghdad, hoping to avoid driving through the city and being detected at newly erected security checkpoints."


2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan
The 2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan modified Kazakhstan's basic law, on May 18, 2007. The changes followed the conclusion of the activities of the 'State Commission on Democratization' formed two years previously.


2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan
In a speech on May 16 to the Joint Session of the Chambers of Parliament, President Nursultan Nazarbayev summarized the development of Kazakhstan since independence in 1991, and outlined his proposed constitutional changes.


2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan
The main changes proposed by the President were as follows:


2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan
In addition to these proposals the Kazakh parliament passed an additional amendment two days later, lifting the term-limit clause on the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The constitution limits a president to two five-year terms, but this amendment allows the incumbent president--Nazarbayev--to run for an unlimited number of five year terms. Some critics argued this move paved the way for him to become de facto President for life.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Hugo999 (talk | contribs) at 00:59, 14 December 2019 (removed Category:September 2007 events; added Category:September 2007 events in Europe using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen
On September 4, 2007, two men who were planning a terror attack were arrested along several others by Danish police officers and Security Intelligence Service agents in several coordinated actions throughout the Greater Copenhagen area. The two men were later convicted and sentenced to twelve and seven years in prison, respectively. In Danish, it became known as the "terror case from Glasvej" (Terrorsagen fra Glasvej) after the road where the convicted ringleader had his apartment, which had been under surveillance for an extended period of time before the arrests. It is unknown if the target of the planned bombing was in Denmark or abroad.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen
Police, accompanied by bomb experts, initially arrested 11 men and searched their homes. Most were released after questioning, but two were charged and later convicted. The prosecutors described the two as militant islamists with direct connections to Al-Qaeda.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Arrestees
The two men against whom charges were pressed were Hammad Khürshid, a 21-year-old man of Pakistani ethnicity, and Abdoulghani Tokhi, a man of Afghan origin aged between 18 and 20. Six others were released after questioning.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Investigation
The suspects had been under surveillance for an extended period of time and the arrests were the result of a months-long investigation.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Investigation
After the arrests it was announced that Matas, Denmark largest drug store chain, is co-operating with domestic Security Intelligence Service to keep tabs on the sale of substances that can be used to make bombs for terrorist attacks. Sales of more than two containers of the substances on a list compiled to any one customer is registered by the shop's employees on a special form. The information is then passed on to the police. Matas has instituted the new rules at all its 292 shops across the country.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Charges
The suspects were arraigned on charges of planning a terrorist attack and accused of storing unstable explosives, possibly TATP.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Trial
The Danish court in Glostrup convicted Khürshid and Tokhi of attempted terrorism and sentenced them to twelve and seven years in prison, respectively, in October 2008. Khürshid was considered the ringleader, resulting in his higher sentence. The court said during sentencing that Tokhi, who only had a Danish residence permit (Khürshid is a Danish citizen), would be expelled after serving his sentence.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Trial
During the trial, prosecutors said Khürshid had links to Al Qaeda. During searches of his home in Denmark, police found a handwritten bomb-making manual written by Khürshid while at the pro-Taliban Lal Masjid, the so-called Red Mosque in Islamabad during the winter and spring of 2007. Khürshid admitted he later went to the Taliban-controlled Waziristan region, but denies receiving any military training there. Khürshid and Tokhi pleaded innocent saying that the explosives were to be used for fireworks.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Trial
It was not clear whether Khürshid and Tokhi were preparing an attack in Denmark or abroad.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Trial
On Friday June 26, 2009, the Østre Landsret upheld the convictions of both Khürshid and Tohki.


2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen, Deportation
As Tokhi was an Afghan citizen, he was deported home to Afghanistan after serving his sentence. Tokhi commentedf from Kabul that "the prison in Denmark was luxury comparing to being here alone".


2007 bomb plot in Germany
The 2007 bomb plot in Germany, planned by the al-Qaeda controlled Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), affiliated Sauerland terror cell (German: Sauerland-Gruppe, lit. ' Sauerland Group'), was discovered following an extensive nine-month investigation. That involved more than 600 agents in five German states. The number of agents involved in a counterterrorism operation led by the federal police has never been the case before. At the same time, Danish police in Copenhagen were busy with explosives. A Pakistani and an Afghan man have been charged with preparing to carry out their attacks under al-Qaeda plans.


2007 bomb plot in Germany
Authorities said they were unaware of any direct links between the terrorists arrested in the two European countries. Three men were arrested on 4 September 2007 while leaving a rented cottage in the Oberschledorn district of Medebach, Germany where they had stored 700 kg (1,500 lb) of a hydrogen peroxide-based mixture and 26 military-grade detonators, and were attempting to build car bombs. A supporter was arrested in Turkey. All four had attended an IJU-training camp in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2006. They were convicted in 2010 and given prison sentences of varying lengths; all have since been released.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators
Two of the perpetrators were German converts to Islam from Christianity, and two were German-Turks. In 2006, all four attended a paramilitary training camp run by the Islamic Jihad Union in Waziristan.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators
The perpetrators were primarily motivated by strong anti-Americanism fuelled by interaction with extremists inside Germany, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and their radicalization increased after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators, Fritz Gelowicz
Fritz Gelowicz (born 1979) was considered the leader of the plot. He was born in Munich and moved to Ulm with his parents and brother at the age of 5. He was raised in an upper middle class family where his father was a solar heating salesman and his mother was a nurse. His parents separated when he was 15, and Gelowicz remained with his father. He converted to Islam between the ages of 15–18 while attending the Multikulturhaus in Neu-Ulm, and used the name Abdullah. The Multikulturhaus, with its radical sermons, was at the time one of the main Salafist centers in Germany; it was closed in 2005.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators, Fritz Gelowicz
He enrolled to study engineering at Ulm University where he joined an extremist Islamist study circle, which regularly met at Café Istanbul. Members of the study group legitimized the killing of Jews, Christians and infidels. Gelowicz was also a member of extremist circles based at the Multikulturhaus in Neu-Ulm.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators, Fritz Gelowicz
Gelowicz lost interest in his engineering studies and took an 18-month break from the University. During the break took Arabic language courses in Egypt and Syria as well as religious courses in Saudi Arabia. He also took part in the hajj to Mecca. According to U.S. authorities, Gelowicz trained at camp belonging to the Islamic Jihad Union in tribal areas of Pakistan.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators, Fritz Gelowicz
He was married in January 2007, to a German-Turkish woman.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Perpetrators, Others
Seven lesser figures were also being hunted. Only five are known by name. The other two have been identified by aliases. Four of the ten suspects (including Yilmaz) have been identified as Turkish.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Investigation
The suspects had been under observation since October 2006, when the NSA had intercepted communications between them and IJU and alerted German authorities. At the end of 2006, Fritz Gelowicz was spotted suspiciously observing a US Army base in Hanau. The suspects had rented a vacation house in the remote town of Oberschledorn, where they amassed 700 kg (1,500 lbs) of hydrogen peroxide, and military-grade detonators from Syria.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Investigation
A 20 July conversation between two suspects mentioned targeting "a disco filled with American sluts," as well as Ramstein Air Base and Frankfurt Airport.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Investigation
A phone call from northern Pakistan in late August is purported to have set a 15 September deadline for the group's attacks. The group was aware that they were being watched by police, one member even slashing an unmarked police car's tires while stopped at an intersection.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Investigation
A routine traffic stop by police not involved in the investigation led to the officers mentioning that the drivers were on a federal watchlist, a comment that the suspects overheard (as was recorded by covert listening devices installed by German authorities in their rented car). This led to an unscheduled raid on their cottage on 4 September 2007. The men were preparing to move the chemicals by van when they were arrested outside the home. There was a minor scuffle and one of the men shot a German police officer in the hand before being subdued.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Investigation, Bombing materials
The solution containing 35% hydrogen peroxide had been purchased legally. Authorities who were observing the group surreptitiously replaced it with a harmless 3% solution at the end of July 2007. The Pakistani terror camps had reportedly trained their members to make bombs using peroxide as it was easy to procure, and unlikely to rouse suspicion. The hydrogen peroxide was to be concentrated by being heated, and then mixed with flour. It was found later that many of the 26 military detonators the group had purchased would not have worked.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Investigation, Bombing materials
Three used vans had also been purchased in France, and brought into Germany, possibly to be the carriers for the bombs.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Aftermath
U.S. President George W. Bush, after being briefed on the arrests, expressed his appreciation to the German authorities, saying that serious potential terrorist attacks had been prevented. The authorities did not find a direct link between the cases in Germany and Denmark, but in both cases they also found material for bomb-making in addition to the suspected links with al-Qaeda. Both German and Danish suspects used the Internet to try to communicate with their Pakistani network.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Aftermath
Tougher terror legislation was proposed by German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries. The new laws would make it illegal to train and/or obtain substances for an attack. The proposed penalty would be up to ten years in prison.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Aftermath
G., S., Y., and S. went on trial in Germany on 22 April 2009. The suspects confessed. They were sentenced in March 2010.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Aftermath, Perpetrators and sentencing
The authorities did not find a direct link between the cases in Germany and Denmark, but in both cases they also found material for bomb-making in addition to the suspected links with al-Qaeda. Both German and Danish suspects used the Internet to try to communicate with their Pakistani network.


2007 bomb plot in Germany, Aftermath, Perpetrators and sentencing
The perpetrators were primarily motivated by strong anti-Americanism fuelled by interaction with extremists inside Germany, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and their radicalization increased after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.


2007 constitution of Thailand
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, Buddhist Era 2550 (2007) (Thai: รัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พุทธศักราช ๒๕๕๐; RTGS: Ratthathammanun Haeng Ratcha-anachak Thai Phutthasakkarat Song Phan Ha Roi Ha Sip) was the constitution of Thailand which was in effect from 2007 to 2014.


2007 constitution of Thailand
On 19 September 2006, the Royal Thai Armed Forces staged a coup d'état against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, abrogated the 1997 constitution and formed a junta called Council for Democratic Reform (CDR). The 2006 interim constitution was then promulgated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej upon advice of the CDR leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin. The interim constitution established a Constitutional Convention (CC) and charged it with the duty to draft a new constitution before presenting the draft to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), a legislature replacing the National Assembly abrogated by the CDR. The CC set up a constituent committee to draw up the draft. The committee consisted of thirty five members, of whom 25 were selected by the CC itself and the other 10 were selected by the CC upon advice of the CDR.


2007 constitution of Thailand
After the draft was approved by the CC and the NLA respectively, a national referendum was organised by the Election Commission on 19 August 2007, allowing the people to approve or deny the entire draft. 56.69 percent of the voters voted in favor of the draft, 41.37 percent voted against it and 1.94 percent were invalid votes. King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed it into law on 24 August 2007 and it came into force immediately.


2007 constitution of Thailand
Two amendments were made to this constitution, both in 2011. The first amendment modified the composition of the House of Representatives. The second revised the criteria governing the conclusion of treaties.


2007 constitution of Thailand
On 22 May 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order, a military junta which staged a coup d'état against the caretaker government, repealed the constitution, save the second chapter which concerns the king. The constitution was repealed and replaced by an interim constitution on 22 July 2014.


2007 constitution of Thailand, 2006 Interim constitution
Prawit Wongsuwan (PPRP)Wissanu Krea-ngamAnutin Charnvirakul (BJT)Jurin Laksanawisit (D)Don PramudwinaiSupattanapong Punmeechaow


2007 constitution of Thailand, 2006 Interim constitution
Borders : Cambodia Laos Malaysia Myanmar (Maritime : India Indonesia Vietnam)


2007 constitution of Thailand, 2006 Interim constitution
On 19 September 2006, a military junta seized power from the interim caretaker government of Thaksin Shinawatra and abrogated the Constitution of Thailand. It later established an interim constitution which specified a process for drafting the permanent constitution. The interim constitution:


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
The drafting process met harsh public criticism. Key concerns included:


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
Banjerd Singkhaneti, of Thammasat University, noted of the process for drafting a permanent constitution, "I think it will be a mess and the next constitution will be just that." Charoen Khumpeeraparp, of Silpakorn University, criticized the charter for protecting human rights according to commitments made under international treaties, claiming that it would not allow persecution of figures in the deposed government. Charoen claimed that no other countries let international commitments influence their local laws.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
However, the draft interim charter did call for one democratic innovation: it required that a permanent constitution would have to be ratified by public referendum. This innovation was suggested in the draft 1974 Constitution, but was rejected by the royally-appointed Constitutional Convention. Nonetheless, the referendum proposal too has been condemned, as if the draft is rejected then under section 32 of the interim charter it is returned to the junta, which will write a constitution of its own in consultation with the Council of Ministers.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
Khomsan Phokhong, of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, demanded greater public participation in the charter-drafting process as well as restrictions against participation by members and affiliates of the Thai Rak Thai party. Somkhid Lertphaithoon, Deputy Rector of Thammasat University, demanded that the junta directly appoint 100 members to the CC rather than rely on a 2000-member NLA. He also called the interim constitution the best of its kind although he was disappointed it did not include a mission statement.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
Somchai Siripreechakul, Dean of Law at Chiang Mai University, urged Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to call a general election as soon as possible and hand the task of drafting a charter to the elected parliament.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
Among human rights groups, the Hong Kong-based regional body the Asian Human Rights Commission has issued a series of statements condemning the interim charter as a work of "constitutional fiction".


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
Federation for Democracy chairman Weng Tojirakarn called the new constitution as, "a joke drafted by a council of puppets."


2007 constitution of Thailand, Criticism of the drafting process
With the draft facing mounting criticism, Premier Surayud promised that if the draft were approved on 19 August, he would hold national elections as early as 25 November 2007 (instead of September, as promised immediately after the coup, or late December, as later promised by the junta).


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Junta guidelines
In December, junta chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin issued several guidelines for the permanent constitution being drafted by the CDR's drafting body. These included:


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Junta guidelines
He also suggested that the term in office of village heads and kamnan be increased from 5 to 10 years, while the role of elected tambon administrative organisations be reduced.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Junta guidelines
Sonthi later denied dictating the content for the new constitution, but stated "We can't force them to do things but responsible people will know what the constitution should look like."


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Junta guidelines
General Saprang Kalayanamitr, junta assistant secretary-general, noted that military coups against the government "should never be ruled out." The abrogated 1997 constitution had outlawed coups.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Junta guidelines
Despite repeated denials from the junta, public opinion persisted that the junta would enable their post-election grip on power via the clauses of the new constitution.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Initial selection
In December, the 2,000-member NLA elected 200 of its members as candidates for the CC. The voting was fraught with irregularities. The candidate with most votes was Okas Tepalakul from Chachoengsao Province, a virtually unknown car dealership owner who was a former classmate of junta-head Sonthi Boonyaratglin. BMW Thailand executive Pharani Leenuthapong received the second highest number of votes. The controversial selection also saw Suwit Pipatwilaikul, a little-known Nong Bua Lamphu construction contractor who received the third highest number of votes. There were no representatives of farmers or workers in the final selection.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Initial selection
Of the 200 final nominees, the nominee who received the lowest  number of votes received just seven votes. CC member Maj Pol Gen Krerk Kalayanimitr claimed that some votes may have been bought. Of the 200 nominees, 74 were public sector bureaucrats, 34 were academics, 38 were from the social sector, and 54 were from the private sector.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Initial selection
The voting itself was full of irregularities. CC members were lobbied in front of toilets and many CC members marked their ballots before entering the polling booths (Normally, voters are handed ballot papers only when they enter the booth). A soldier guarding the entrance to the parliament stopped a woman carrying 400,000 baht in cash. She refused to say why she was carrying so much money.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Initial selection
Of the 200 shortlisted nominees, 100 were approved by the junta to act as potential constitution drafters. The 100 included prominent anti-Thaksin critics like Chirmsak Pinthong, Karun Sai-ngarm, and Klanarong Chanthik. Among those approved were several who had received the lowest number of votes from the CC (7), including Phisit Lee-Atham, Wichai Roobkhamdee, Wicha Mahakhun, and Apichart Damdee. The three approved who received the greatest number of votes were Okart Tepalakul, Uthit Chuchuey, and Wuthisarn Tanchai.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Initial selection
Former Thammasat University Rector Noranit Sethabutra was unanimously voted president of the CC. Two other candidates, Sawat Chotipanich and Charun Pakdithanakul, were also nominated for the post, but withdrew their candidacies. Noranit pledged to complete drafting the new within 180 days.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Qualifications controversy
Members of the constituent committee selected by the 100-member CC were required to be either a professor or have held a position equivalent to director-general, or former senator or member of parliament. This requirement met with opposition among some members of the CC. However, CC Chairperson Noranit Sethabutra gained a consensus among the CC's 100 members that there was no time to rewrite qualification requirements. He said the six month time frame set down by the junta for producing a new constitution meant there was no time to amend the decree, which would require cabinet approval and the  king's signature.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Qualifications controversy
Dissenting CC-member Karun Sai-ngam noted, "The CC is neglecting an important matter and in the future people will say, 'Look what the CC did. It merely closed its eyes and ears [and didn't oppose it]'." Sawaek Chinkool noted, "That's what they told us [to do]. We have been raped and we must accept it."


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Selection of drafters, Direct CDR appointees
The junta nominated candidates to join the CC, ten of whom were selected to become part of the 35 members of the constituent committee. These selectees included anti-Thaksin activist and former CC president Prasong Soonsiri, Judge Advocate-General Attaporn Charoenpanit, Montri Sri-iamsa-ard, Atchaporn Charuchinda, Supot Kaimuk, legal expert Thongtong Chandrangsu, Detudom Krairit, Thanaboon Chiranuwat, Vichit Wichaisarn and Kanchanarat Leewirot. Prasong Soonsiri was later chosen to lead the drafting group.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Religion
Drafters came under pressure from religious groups to name Buddhism as the national religion. Over 300,000 signed a petition in an attempt to sway the commission, and the leader of a Buddhist group threatened that Buddhists would reject the draft constitution in a public referendum if their demands were not met.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Human rights
The National Human Rights Commission asked to present suggestions as to what human rights clauses should be enshrined in the new constitution, but the request was rejected by the drafters. CC president Prasong Soonsiri claimed that the commission had "no time to listen to everyone." CC member Pairoj Phromsarn claimed "there will be no end" to deliberation if everyone were allowed to give suggestions.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Prime minister
The CC announced that future prime ministers and cabinet members should be barred from running the country in a caretaker capacity after the dissolution of the House of Representatives. An interim administration, under a person not formally titled prime minister to avoid legal confusion, would be selected by the Supreme Court, Supreme Administrative Court, and Constitution Tribunal. In justifying the move, Vicha Mahakun, one CC drafter, noted that politicians were like "hungry tigers, so are we really going to allow them to stay on [after House dissolution]? The country is already in a bad way." The proposal was attacked by several party leaders, including Thai Rak Thai Party caretaker executive Veera Musigapong, who noted that "They [the junta] hope that the next government will be a coalition and they can manage to be the leader of the coalition."


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Prime minister
CC president Prasong Soonsiri supported a proposal that would not require that prime ministers be elected members of parliament. CC member Sriracha Charoenpanich, who was the main proponent for the clause, insisted that as many as 50 percent of the CC supported the move. He insisted that he was not defending the junta's interests. The clause was supported by General Somjet Boonthanom, CDR Secretary General, since it provided "a good way out" of political crises.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Prime minister
Several notable figures attacked the clause as being undemocratic, including CC member Noranit Sethabutr, political scientist Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, Campaign for Popular Democracy Deputy Secretary-General Somkuan Promthong, Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban, and Thai Rak Thai party caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that efforts to include the clause "created public mistrust in the government."


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Parliamentary representation
The CC announced that it would adopt a multi-seat constituency system for the House of Representatives, which would give each province at least three members of parliament. The system was used in the general election in 1995, while the 1997 constitution called for single-seat constituencies. A proportional representation system was announced, with 320 constituency MPs and 80 party-list MPs.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Senate
The CC's sub-panel on political institutions, chaired by Jarun Pukditanakul, concluded that the next constitution, the Senate would not be an elected body. The new Senate's 160 members would be selected via a national selection committee as well as provincial selection committees in each of the 76 provinces nationwide (not including Bangkok). Each provincial committee would name a list of 10 candidates, which would be narrowed down to one by the national committee. A senator for Bangkok would be selected directly by a national selection committee. The Election Commission would be responsible for selecting the remaining 84 senators.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Senate
The CC formally recommended that senators be appointed, claiming that it would solve the problem of nepotism. The recommendation was criticized by both the Democrat and Thai Rak Thai Parties.


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Senate
Drafters defended the move to appoint senators. In a public hearing, former judge Wicha Mahakhun claimed that,


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Senate
We all know elections are evil, but [why do] many people still want to see history repeated? People, especially academics, who want to see the constitution lead to genuine democracy, are naive. Electing senators is a problem, as seen in the past, so why don't people want judges to help select senators?


2007 constitution of Thailand, Drafting process, Key issues, Senate
The former judge further claimed that the king placed his trust in the judiciary's proposed role in appointing the Senate, noting that "On April 9 [2006], His Majesty told the judges to perform their duties firmly and without caring what others might say. His Majesty said if the courts did not support good people, society could not survive. His Majesty said it was most imperative [for judges] to ensure justice. Even HM the King places trust in the judges; would you condemn them? The country collapsed because politicians played politics without principle, but these people [who want elected senators] have never learned from the [country's] crisis."