On this day in history - August 20

What Happened On This Day – August 20

• 1993 Oslo accords negotiations conclude

  The negotiations for the Oslo Accords were concluded at the Fafo Institute in Oslo. The agreement was between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The accords, that were eventually signed in Washington D.C. set up the Palestinian Authority and gave it governing powers over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

• 1988 The Iran-Iraq War comes to an end after 7 years

  The deadly conventional war between the two Middle Eastern countries began when Iraq invaded Iran on September 22, 1980.

• 1975 Viking 1 is launched by NASA using a Titan launch vehicle

  It became the first space probe to successfully land on Mars.

• 1960 Senegal withdraws from the Mali Federation

  Senegal withdrew from the Mali Federation, a year after its establishment. Léopold Senghor became the first president of Senegal a month later.

• 1940 Leon Trotsky is attacked in Mexico

  Russian revolutionary and founder of the Red Army, Leon Trotsky was attacked in his home by an undercover agent of the Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs or N.K.V.D. He died a day later due to the injuries sustained during the attack.