Editing 2003 (section)

===March===
* [[March 8]] – [[Malta]] approves joining the [[European Union]] in [[2003 Maltese European Union membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/09/malta.yes/ |title=Malta votes 'yes' to EU membership |date=March 9, 2003 |website=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030313220750/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/09/malta.yes/ |archive-date=March 13, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>
* [[March 12]]
** [[Republic of Serbia (1992–2006)|Serbia]]n Prime Minister [[Zoran Đinđić]] [[Assassination of Zoran Đinđić|is assassinated in Belgrade]] by a sniper.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2885377.stm|title=Djindjic murder suspect arrested|date=2003-03-25|newspaper=BBC|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104212350/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2885377.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
** The [[World Health Organization]] issues a global alert on [[severe acute respiratory syndrome]] when it spreads to [[Hong Kong]] and [[Vietnam]] after originating in [[Mainland China]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/|title=CNN.com - Timeline: SARS outbreak - Apr. 24, 2003|website=CNN|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308183738/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/04/24/timeline.sars/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 15]] – Former General [[François Bozizé]] seizes power through [[2003 Central African Republic coup d'état|a military coup]] in the [[Central African Republic]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-03-17 |title=CAR coup strongly condemned |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2853429.stm |access-date=2022-12-14 |archive-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829003215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2853429.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[March 17]] – U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] presents a 48-hour ultimatum for Iraqi president [[Saddam Hussein]] to resign.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-17 |title=Bush: 'Leave Iraq within 48 hours' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/17/sprj.irq.bush.transcript/ |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=CNN |archive-date=March 20, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030320042257/https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/17/sprj.irq.bush.transcript/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[March 20]] – The [[Iraq War]] begins with the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion]] of [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] by the U.S. and allied forces.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/31/world/middleeast/20100831-Iraq-Timeline.html#/|title=Timeline of Major Events in the Iraq War|last1=Crichton|first1=Kyle|last2=Lamb|first2=Gina|access-date=2016-07-01|last3=Jacquette|first3=Rogene Fisher|website=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=January 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102165604/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/08/31/world/middleeast/20100831-Iraq-Timeline.html#/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[March 21]] – The world's largest ocean liner, [[RMS Queen Mary 2]]  is launched.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Peter C. |title=Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels |date=1 January 2010 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84884-218-2 |page=141 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3w3ocEPPlKoC&pg=PA141 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[March 23]]
** [[2003 Nadimarg massacre]]: Islamist militants gather and execute citizens of a Hindu village in [[Kashmir]], killing 24 of the 54 residents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-30 |title=Kashmir Massacre Shakes Village's Sense of Fraternity |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-30-adfg-indiakill30-story.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213183339/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-30-adfg-indiakill30-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[Slovenia]] approves joining the European Union and [[NATO]] in [[2003 Slovenian European Union and NATO membership referendum|a referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/slovenia-votes-for-membership-in-european-union-and-nato.html|title=Slovenia Votes for Membership in European Union and NATO|last=Green|first=Peter S.|date=2003-03-24|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-date=March 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318022921/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/world/slovenia-votes-for-membership-in-european-union-and-nato.html|url-status=live}}</ref>