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1977: Egypt severs ties with Arab hardliners
President Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt breaks all relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria and South Yemen.

1950: Pyongyang taken as UN retreats
Chinese forces fighting for their Korean comrades enter the North Korean capital and push United Nations troops back south.

1995: Jaffna falls to Sri Lankan army
Sri Lankan troops drive the Tamil Tiger guerrillas out of their heartland capital of Jaffna after a 49-day operation.

1989: Thatcher beats off leadership rival
The Prime Minister defeats Sir Anthony Meyer in the first challenge to her leadership of the Conservative Party.

1991: Maxwell business empire faces bankruptcy
Administrators are called in to try to salvage the Maxwell business empire, which is at least �1bn in debt.

Around this Day

2 December
Top Story: 1977: South African police cleared of Biko death

3 December
Top Story: 1984: Hundreds die in Bhopal chemical accident

4 December
Top Story: 1971: Bomb demolishes crowded Belfast pub

6 December
Top Story: 1975: Couple under siege in Balcombe Street

7 December
Top Story: 1941: Japanese planes bomb Pearl Harbor

8 December
Top Story: 1980: John Lennon shot dead

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