Events

• February - Iraq disarmament crisis: British and U.S. forces carry out bombing raids attempting to disable Iraq's air defense network.

• February 5 - Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman announced that they had separated.

• February 6 - Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon wins election as Prime Minister of Israel.

• February 9 - American submarine USS Greeneville accidentally strikes and sinks Japanese fishing vessel Ehime-Maru.

• February 12 - NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft touchdown in the "saddle" region of 433 Eros becoming the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid.

• February 13 - An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter Scale hits El Salvador, killing at least 400.

• February 15 - All your base are belong to us hits wider Internet with flash/video version, becoming an instant hit

• February 16 - Baghdad suburb bombed by US and UK war planes, 3 people killed

• February 18 - During the Daytona 500 race, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, known as "The Intimidator" for his aggressive driving style, is killed in a crash.

• February 19 - An Oklahoma City bombing museum is dedicated at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center.

• February 19 - Priscilla Davis dies of breast cancer.

• February 20 - FBI agent Robert Hanssen is arrested and charged with spying for Russia for 15 years.

• February 26 - Treaty of Nice

• February 28 - An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale hits the Northwest area of the United States. There were no reports of any deaths.