On November 11, 1960, a failed coup attempt against President Ngo Dinh Diem of South Vietnam was led by Lieutenant Colonel Vuong Van Dong and Colonel Nguyen Chanh Thi of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The rebels launched the coup in response to Diem's autocratic rule and the negative political influence of his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu and his sister-in-law Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu. After initially being trapped inside the Independence Palace, Diem stalled the coup by holding negotiations and promising reforms. However, his real aim was to buy time for loyalist forces to enter Saigon and relieve him. The coup failed when the Fifth and Seventh Divisions of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam entered Saigon and defeated the rebels. More than four hundred people—many of whom were spectating civilians—were killed in the ensuing battle. Dong and Thi fled to Cambodia, while Diem excoriated the United States for a perceived lack of support during the crisis. Afterwards, Diem ordered a crackdown, imprisoning numerous anti-government critics and former cabinet ministers. A trial for those implicated in the plot was held in 1963. Seven officers and two civilians were sentenced to death in absentia, while 14 officers and 34 civilians were jailed.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_South_Vietnamese_coup_attempt

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1958:

Vanguard 1 , the first solar-powered satellite, was launched. It is the oldest human-launched object still in Earth orbit today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_1

1969:

Golda Meir of the Labor Party became the first female Prime Minister of Israel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golda_Meir

2004:

Unrest in Kosovo broke out, resulting in more than 20 killed, 200 wounded, and the destruction of several Serb Orthodox churches and shrines. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_unrest_in_Kosovo

45 BC:

Caesar's civil war: Julius Caesar scored his final military victory at the Battle of Munda, defeating the Optimate forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Munda

624:

History of Islam: The Muslims of Medina defeated the Quraysh of Mecca in Badr, present-day Saudi Arabia, a victory that has been attributed to divine intervention or the genius of Muhammad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badr

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

shamrock (n): 1. The trefoil leaf of any small clover, especially Trifolium repens, or of any clover-like plant.

2. Any of several small forms of clover with trefoil leaves, especially Trifolium repens http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shamrock

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Let anyone laugh and taunt if he so wishes. I am not keeping silent, nor am I hiding the signs and wonders that were shown to me by the Lord many years before they happened, who knew everything, even before the beginning of time. --Saint Patrick http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick