WHAT HAPPENED ON 23. FEBRUARY
Want to find out what all happened on 23. February

First meeting of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). (23. February 1955)

Cuban rebels kidnap 5-time world F1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio. (23. February 1958)

In Syria, Ba'ath Party member Salah Jadid leads an intra-party military coup that replaces the previous government of General Amin Hafiz, also a Baathist. (23. February 1966)

The Symbionese Liberation Army demands $4 million more to release kidnap victim Patty Hearst. (23. February 1974)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini states that Iran's parliament will decide the fate of the American embassy hostages. (23. February 1980)

In Spain, Antonio Tejero attempts a coup d'état by capturing the Spanish Congress of Deputies. (23. February 1981)

The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy out and evacuate the dioxin-contaminated community of Times Beach, Missouri. (23. February 1983)

Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud. (23. February 1987)

Gulf War: Ground troops cross the Saudi Arabian border and enter Iraq, thus beginning the ground phase of the war. (23. February 1991)

In Thailand, General Sunthorn Kongsompong leads a bloodless coup d'état, deposing Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan. (23. February 1991)

In the United States, tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42. (23. February 1998)

Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey. (23. February 1999)

An avalanche destroys the Austrian village of Galtür, killing 31. (23. February 1999)

The controversial French law on colonialism is passed, requiring teachers to teach the "positive values of colonialism". After public outcry, it is repealed at the beginning of 2006. (23. February 2005)

A train derails on an evening express service near Grayrigg, Cumbria, England, killing one person and injuring 22. This results in hundreds of points being checked over the UK after a few similar accidents. (23. February 2007)

A United States Air Force B-2 Spirit crashes on Guam. It is the first operational loss of a B-2. (23. February 2008)

Unknown criminals pour more than 2.5 million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in Northern Italy, sparking an environmental disaster. (23. February 2010)