1991

The Foreign Office expelled eight Iraqi embassy officials from the UK following threats of attacks on Western targets.

The seven diplomats and one security guard were ordered to leave on the grounds that their presence was "not conducive to the public good".

The Iraqi Government has condemned the expulsions and says it reserves the right to retaliate.

One person died and hundreds were injured in a train crash at Cannon Street station in London.

It was understood the brakes on the train, which was travelling at no more than five miles per hour, had failed.

Fifteen people were trapped inside the train after the sixth carriage of the 10-carriage train, which was carrying 1,000 passengers, was pushed on top of the fifth by the impact of the crash.

The United Nations Secretary General left for Baghdad in a final diplomatic effort to avoid war against Iraq.

Javier Perez de Cuellar was expected to raise the possibility of sending a UN peacekeeping force to Kuwait to oversee the peaceful withdrawal of Iraqi troops.

Saddam Hussein is under UN orders to pull his soldiers out of Kuwait within five days. A Security Council resolution authorises the use of force against Iraq if he fails to comply.

The United States Congress voted to authorise the use of military force against Iraq to end its occupation of neighbouring Kuwait.

After three days of sometimes heated debate, the House of Representatives passed the motion authorising use of force by 250 votes to 183.

The Democrat-controlled Senate vote was far closer, at 52 to 47, but was not as narrow as had been feared.

At least 13 people were killed and more than 140 injured by the Soviet military in the capital of Lithuania as Moscow continues its crackdown on the Baltic republic and its drive for independence.

More than 1,000 protesters had gathered to protect a radio and television centre. Soldiers smashed through the glass windows of the station and overwhelmed defenders.