A daily pick of news events that happened on this day in history taken from the pages of Gulf News dated August 08, 1979.

Guerrillas take tough line on UK peace plan

Britain's new outline for peace in Zimbabwe Rhodesia ran into a major challenge when the biggest guerrilla army there adopted a tough line well in advance of proposed all-party settlement talks. But African diplomatic sources said much of the hard-line approach stemmed from position-taking in advance of peace talks.

Click here to view a Gulf News page on this day

Two Tehran papers close down under new press law

Armed Islamic revolutionary guards closed two Tehran publications after the council of the revolution announced a new law governing the press. About 30 militiamen brandishing automatic rifles occupied the offices of the independent newspapers Ayandegan and Ahangar on the orders of the prosecutor general of the revolution, according to the staff.

Maria's march to elections

Portugal's first woman Prime Minister, Maria De Lourdes Pintasilgo, has described her caretaker task as a 100-day march to general elections in the autumn. Her conservative opponents, to quote a recent headline, regard it more as a 100-day war, accusing her of lacking the impartiality needed for her delicate mission.

Bolivia gives President freehand

Former Foreign Minister Walter Guevara Arze elected as Bolivia's interim President, the start of a process aimed at restoring civilian democratic government after ten years of military rule. Arze will serve until August 6, 1980, when elections for a full democratic government will have taken place, around May next year. The new President will have a freehand to name his cabinet, but will have to submit all bills to Congress.

Military rule to end in Nigeria after 13 years

Nigeria could see the end of 13 years of military rule with a national poll next Saturday to elect a US style executive president. The voting is the last of five ballots. Since polling began on July 7, black Africa’s most populous country has chosen a 95-member state assemblies, and governors for the 19 states. Chief of state Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo planned the return to civilian rule through the ballot box and promised his administration would do its utmost to ensure fair, the free and unhindered elections.