September 5, 2004

• Two large earthquakes strike western Japan, the first measuring 6.9 and the second 7.3 on the Richter scale. Tsunamis 1–2m (3–7 ft) are expected to hit the Pacific coast. (Reuters)
• Women on Waves, a group that provides abortions in international waters for women in countries where the procedure is outlawed, is denied access to Portuguese territorial waters. The Portuguese government has placed warships in the vicinity to enforce the decision. (Indymedia)
• Iraqi officials now say that contrary to earlier reports, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the deputy commander of Iraq's armed forces during the rule of Saddam Hussein, has not been captured. Medical tests now show that the man who had been identified as al-Douri is actually one of his relatives. Seventy of al-Douri's supporters are now dead and 80 have been captured. Al-Douri is number six on the U.S.'s list of the 55 most wanted Iraqis. (CNN) (Reuters)
• Hurricane Frances, a Category Two Hurricane, moves across Florida. Insurance claims for damages are estimated to be between USD 2 and 10 billion. At least two deaths are attributed to Frances in the Bahamas, and one in Gainesville, Florida. (NOAA/NHC) (MSNBC)