Major events recorded on June 5

Nicosia, Cyprus. A series of notable events have occurred on June 5 over the years, spanning war, international diplomacy, politics, culture and religion. The date includes developments from 1916 through 2003.

Events on June 5

In 1916, Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener of Khartoum, an Irish soldier, statesman and conqueror of Sudan, was lost at sea when his ship struck a mine off the Orkneys.

In 1945, the Allied Control Commission took control of Germany and divided it into four occupation zones.

In 1947, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall announced his plan to help Europe recover financially from the effects of World War Two.

In 1968, U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy was shot in Los Angeles by Palestinian-Arab Sirhan Sirhan. He died the following day.

In 1975, the Suez Canal, which had been closed in the 1967 Middle East war, reopened to all shipping except Israeli vessels.

In 1999, U.S. jazz singer Mel Torme died at the age of 73.

In 2000, U.S. President Bill Clinton became the first major Western leader to address the Russian State Duma.

In 2002, Sinn Fein, the IRA’s political ally, took the symbolic top post in Belfast when a hardline republican won the position of lord mayor despite bitter Protestant opposition.

In 2003, Pope John Paul arrived on the Adriatic island of Krk to begin the 100th foreign trip of his papacy, a five-day visit to Croatia.