Milestones

Ten years ago: Iranian pilgrims and riot police clashed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government blamed Iranians for the resulting 400 deaths.

Five years ago: The space shuttle Atlantis blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on a problem-plagued scientific mission. Also, Summer Sanders became the first American athlete to win four medals at the Barcelona Olympics as she won the gold in the women’s 200-meter butterfly.

One year ago: After President Clinton’s announcement that he would sign a historic welfare overhaul bill, 98 Democrats joined the House’s Republican majority to pass the legislation.