orbit. February 15 Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan. Following a campaign that saw over 1,000 people killed in massive campaign-related violence, the United National Party wins the Sri Lankan parliamentary election. February 16 – Pan Am Flight 103: Investigators announce that the cause of the 1988 crash was a bomb hidden inside a radio-cassette player. February 17 The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) is formed. South African police raid the home of Winnie Mandela and arrest four of her bodyguards. February 20 – In Canada's Yukon Territory, the ruling New Democrats narrowly maintain control of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, winning 9 seats vs. the Progressive Conservative Party's 7. February 23 – After protracted testimony, the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee rejects, 11–9, President Bush's nomination of John Tower for Secretary of Defense. February 23–27 – U.S. President Bush visits Japan, China and South Korea, attending the funeral of Hirohito and then meeting with China's Deng Xiaoping and South Korea's Roh Tae-woo. February 24 The funeral of Hirohito is attended by representatives of 160 nations. The Satanic Verses controversy: Iran places a $3,000,000 bounty on the head of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie. Singing Revolution: After 44 years, the Estonian flag is raised at the Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn. United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747, suffers uncontrolled decompression after leaving Honolulu International Airport; nine passengers are blown out of the cabin to their deaths. February 27 – Venezuela is rocked by the Caracazo, a wave of protests and looting. March March – Poland begins to liberalise its currency exchange in a move towards capitalism. March 1 The Berne Convention, an international treaty on copyrights, is ratified by the United States. A curfew is imposed in Kosovo, where protests continue over the alleged intimidation of the Serb minority. The Politieke Partij Radicalen, Pacifistisch Socialistische Partij, Communistische Partij Nederland and the Evangelical People's Party amalgamate to form the Dutch political party GroenLinks (GL, GreenLeft). After 74 years, Iceland ends its prohibition on beer; celebrated since as bjórdagur or beer day. March 2 – Twelve European Community nations agree to ban the production of all chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by the end of the century. March 3 – Jammu Siltavuori abducts and murders two eight-year-old girls in the Myllypuro suburb of Helsinki, Finland. March 4 Time Inc. and Warner Communications announce plans for a merger,