October 1956 Joins uprising against proBritish royalist rulers and then becomes a militant in the pan-Arab, secular Ba'ath Party.

October 1959 A year after overthrow of monarchy, takes part in attempt to kill Prime Minister Abdel-Karim Kassem. Flees abroad.

February 1963 Returns to Baghdad when the Ba'ath Party seizes power in a military coup but nine months later Ba'athists are toppled.

Caught and jailed. Elected deputy secretary general of the party while in prison.

July 1968 Saddam helps plot the coup that puts the Ba'ath Party back in power, deposing President Abdul-Rahman Aref.

March 1975 As vice-president of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), signs border agreement with the Shah of Iran, who ends support for an Iraqi Kurdish revolt, causing its collapse.

16 July 1979 Takes power after President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr steps aside as chairman of the RCC.

22 September 1980 Following border skirmishes, Saddam launches war on Iran that lasts eight years.

16 March 1988 Iraqi forces launch chemical attack on Iraqi Kurdish town of Halabja (ABOVE), killing about 5,000 people.

20 August A ceasefire is officially implemented in the Iran-Iraq war. The campaign against Kurds continues.

2 August 1990 Launches invasion of Kuwait, prompting UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Iraq.

17 January 1991 US-led forces start Gulf War with air attacks on Iraq and occupied Kuwait. Hostilities end on 28 Feb with eviction of Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

15 October 1995 Saddam wins a presidential referendum and is elected unopposed with more than 99% of the vote.

15 October 2002 Official results show Saddam wins 100% of votes in a referendum for a new term in office.

7 December Saddam apologises for invasion of Kuwait but blames the emirate's leadership. Kuwait rejects the apology.