Top ten most popular stories of 2011

Published on Wednesday 4 January 2012 14:33

It was a year which saw seismic changes in middle east politics while disaster hit the north east of Japan.

Here we look at the most popular stories viewed by you on scotsman.com in 2011.

Libya: Scottish officials still in dark as to whereabouts of Lockerbie bomber

Hits: 99420

The controversy over Al Megrahi’s release in 2009 continued this year with the Scottish Government’s efforts to keep tabs on him proving to be our most popular story of the year.

In August it emerged that Scottish Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill had attempted to contact Libyan rebels in a bid to

track down the Lockerbie bomber.

Military to practise blocking Straits of Hormuz

Hits: 65503

With the Arab Spring erupting over the Middle East tensions between Iran and the west intensified in 2011.

In response a member of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee said the military intended to practise its ability to

close the Gulf to shipping at the narrow Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil transit channel in the world.

Newspaper faces court for naming footballer

Hits: 45687

The Sunday Herald identified the footballer who was alleged to have had an affair with Big Brother contestant Imogen Thomas arguing that the super-injunction he had attained was not valid under Scots Law.

The paper published a thinly concealed front page photograph of the player, who had been widely identified on Twitter,

with his eyes blacked out and the word “censored” over the top.

Mass casualty fears after Japan hit by earthquake

Hits: 41735

Millions of TV viewers across the world watched in horror as a tsunami swept across the north east coast of Japan in March.

Close to 20,000 people lost their lives in the quake which was the most powerful ever known to hit the country.

Wales manager Gary Speed found dead

Hits: 40815

The football world was stunned in November with the news that Gary Speed had been found hanged at his Cheshire home.

The 42-year-old former Newcastle and Leeds midfielder was enjoying a successful spell managing the Welsh national side

at the time of his death.

Is this bomb site proof of our secret war against Iran?

Hits: 39704

Dani Garavelli’s report examined the sequence of events which led to the attack on Britain’s embassy in Iran and the subsequent expulsion of Iranian diplomats from London.

Sesame Street pair aren’t gay, insist producers

Hits: 36995

One of TV’s greatest mysteries was finally solved in 2011 when the producers of long-running children’s TV show Sesame Street confirmed that Bert and Ernie have never been in a relationship.

The two, who live together, bathe together and sleep together, are just good pals say the show’s makers.

Lady laird begged builder to have sex then sacked him when he refused, court told

Hits: 30641

Married millionaire Jennifer Harvey made an 11th hour deal after being sued for damages by contractor Ewan White, who said he had been forced to turn down her unwanted sexual advances.

Female student’s naked posts tear the veil from face of secular Egypt

Hits: 29508

Student Aliaa Magda Elmahdy and women’s rights campaigner sparked uproar in Egypt when she posted nude pictures of herself on her blog in protest over limits on free expression.

The protest was aimed at challenging attitudes in a country where even exposing arms or legs in public can ignite public outrage.

Valentine pebbles for soft-hearted penguins

Hits: 27948

Edinburgh Zoo’s penguins haven’t had the best year PR-wise after pelting visitors with poo

in an apparent rage at being snubbed in favour of the new panda arrivals.

Their mischievous behaviour made headlines around the world so it came as little surprise when this

gem of a story from 2003 started appearing again on the site’s most viewed stories.

Thankfully it presents them in a much better light.

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