A daily pick of news events that happened this day in history taken from the pages of Gulf News dated August 09, 1979.

Five top Baathists executed

Iraq executed 21 senior officials including Deputy Prime Minister Adnan Hussein, for conspiring against the iron rule of the Baath Party. The executions by firing squad followed announcement from special seven men tribunal had passed death sentences on 22 alleged conspirators. One of the 22 condemned to die Ahmed Zanoun Kerim was still large.

US does not favour Arabs says Vance

United States firmly rejected Israeli charges that its Middle East policy had shifted in favour of the Arabs. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, in an unusual public reaction, said: "I want to state categorically that there has been no change in our policy towards Israel. Our long-standing support for the security and wellbeing of Israel is firm and unshakeable.”

Extradition for Eschel Rhoodie

A French court ruled in favour of extraditing former South African government official Eschel Rhoodie to Pretoria to face charges growing out of the so-called Muldergate scandal.

Youths shoot Iranian businessman

One of Iran's leading businessmen was shot and badly wounded by a band of youths on motorbikes and a fundamentalist guerrilla group claimed responsibility. Ahmad Lajevardi was gunned down outside his home in Tehran and reported later to be in critical condition after surgery for the removal of bullets from his back.