August 21st 1983: Filipino opposition leader shot dead

The Philippines opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, has been assassinated just minutes after returning home from exile. Mr Aquino, 50, had spent the last three years in the US but was returning home to contest next year's expected elections. Speaking aboard the plane returning him to Manila, Mr Aquino told reporters he was well aware of the risk he was taking. I suppose there's a physical danger because you know assassination's part of public service," he said. "My feeling is we all have to die sometime and if it's my fate to die by an assassin's bullet, so be it." When his plane landed at Manila airport Mr Aquino was taken into custody by soldiers and escorted off the plane. Shortly afterwards witnesses on the plane said a volley of shots rang out and they saw him lying in a pool of blood on the runway tarmac.