It is 40 years since Hafez al Assad seized power in Syria.  He ruled the country for 3 decades, and his son took over when he died.

Witness: Syria and Assad

The killing of 4 American churchwomen in December 1980, brought to light the extent of the violence in El Salvador, and the ruthless military tactics used against the liberation theology wing of the Catholic church. Published on December 2, 2010.

Witness: El Salvador killings

During the late 1970s and early 1980s thousands of mainly young, left-wing Argentines disappeared during military rule.  Witness hears from one of the few survivors of ESMA - the most notorious detention camp. Published on December 13, 2010.

Witness: Argentina's Disappeared

As the US President visits Indonesia we take you back to the 1960s and the time he spent there as a child. Published on November 10, 2010.

Witness: Obama in Indonesia

Just a few hours before he died, the rock star Freddie Mercury issued a public statement saying he was suffering from AIDS. Published on November 26, 2010.

Witness: Freddie Mercury's last days

It is almost 20 years since the former Soviet republic of Georgia descended into political and economic chaos. Armed gangs roamed the streets of the capital Tbilisi as ordinary people tried to carry on with life. Published on December 22, 2010.

Witness: Georgia in crisis

On 21 December 1988 an American passenger plane exploded in the skies above the small Scottish town of Lockerbie. Witness hears from one man who lived there - and who only just survived that night. Published on December 21, 2010.

Witness: Lockerbie

The story of a slave revolt that was brutally crushed by the British colonial authorities in 19th century Jamaica. Published on December 27, 2010.

Witness: Jamaican Slave Rebellion

In early December 1938 the first Kindertransport left Berlin, carrying jewish children out of Nazi Germany. They were taken to live in Britain - where thousands of children escaped the Holocaust. Published on December 3, 2010.

Witness: Kindertransports

Ruby Bridges was just six years old when she became the focus of the American civil rights movement in November 1960. 

She was one of the first black children to go to a white elementary school.

Her presence caused riots on the streets of New Orleans.

There is language used in this programme which some listeners may find offensive. Published on November 12, 2010.

Desegregation of US schools - 1960

The week that Prince William chose to announce his engagement coincides with the anniversary of an interview that the late Princess Diana gave to the BBC TV programme  Panorama. Published on November 19, 2010.

Princess Diana and Panorama

When Chief Albert Luthuli won the Nobel Peace Prize he was living under a banning order in rural South Africa.  His daughter Albertina talks to Witness. Also listen to archive recordings of his acceptance speech.

He won the prize for advocating peaceful opposition to the Apartheid regime in South Africa. 

Picture: Albert Luthuli receives the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960, Credit: Keystone/Hulton Archive Published on October 5, 2013.

Albert Luthuli Receives the Nobel Peace Prize

What was Benazir Bhutto like as a young woman and why did she follow her father into politics? Victoria Schofield met her at Oxford university in the 1970s where they became friends for life. Published on November 16, 2010.

The Young Benazir Bhutto

Witness - history as told by the people who were there. Five days a week we will be talking to people who lived through moments of history to bring you a personal perspective on world events.

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