BITS OF HISTORY

1927: The Russian Revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, marking a victory for Josef Stalin in their power struggle.

2005: Opening session of Arab Transitional Parliament, the Arab world's first regional parliament meeting.

2007: A suicide bomber assassinated Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, plunging the country into chaos ahead of a general election that Bhutto hoped to win.