Timeline: Iraq

2001 20 January - On becoming 43rd president, George W Bush signals a new get-tough policy and vows to "re-invigorate" sanctions against Iraq.

2000 31 December - Despite rumours surrounding his health, Saddam Hussein stages a huge show of military strength two weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Gulf War.

2000 1 December - Iraq halts its oil exports after the United Nations rejected its request that buyers pay a 50-cent-a-barrel surcharge into an Iraqi bank account not controlled by the UN.

2000 November - Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz rejects new weapons inspection proposals.

Sanctions crumble

2000 November - Iraq resumes domestic passenger flights. The Iraqi Airways flights are the first since the 1991 Gulf War. The airliners take off from Baghdad and fly through the no-fly zones imposed by the US and UK.

An increasingly common sight at Baghdad airport

2000 August - Reopening of Baghdad airport, followed by a stream of international flights organised by countries and organisations to campaign against sanctions.

The flights are labelled humanitarian missions to comply with UN sanctions on commercial flights into and out of Iraq.

2000 27 March - In the National Assembly elections, Saddam Hussein's son, Uday, becomes a member for Baghdad Governorate's fifth constituency.

1999 4 January - Iraq asks the UN to replace its US and UK staff in Iraq.

Operation Desert Fox

1998 16-19 December - After UN staff are evacuated from Baghdad, the USA and UK launch a bombing campaign, "Operation Desert Fox", to destroy Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes.

Anti-sanctions: Iraqi women protest

1998 31 October - Iraq ends all forms of cooperation with the UN Special Commission to Oversee the Destruction of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (Unscom).

1996 12 December - Saddam Hussein's elder son, Uday, is seriously wounded in an assassination attempt in Baghdad's Al-Mansur district.

1996 3 September - The US extends the northern limit of the southern no-fly zone to latitude 33 degrees north, just south of Baghdad.

1996 31 August - Iraqi forces launch an offensive into the northern no-fly zone and capture Arbil.

1995 15 October - Saddam Hussein wins a referendum allowing him to remain president for another 7 years.

Oil-for-food

1995 14 April - UNSC Resolution 986 allows the partial resumption of Iraq's oil exports to buy food and medicine ( the "oil-for-food programme"). It is not accepted by Iraq until May 1996 and is not implemented until December 1996.

War damage: The wreck of an Iraqi tank in Kuwait

1994 10 November - The Iraqi National Assembly recognizes Kuwait's borders and its independence.

1993 27 June - US forces launch a cruise missile attack on Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Al-Mansur district, Baghdad in retaliation for the attempted assassination of US President, George Bush, in Kuwait in April.

1992 26 August - A no-fly zone, excluding flights of Iraqi planes, is established in southern Iraq, south of latitude 32 degrees north.

1991 8 April - A plan for the establishment of a UN safe-haven in northern Iraq, north of latitude 36 degrees north, for the protection of the Kurds, is approved at a European Union meeting in Luxembourg. On 10 April, the USA orders Iraq to end all military activity in this area.

1991 Mid-March/early April - Iraqi forces suppress rebellions in the south and the north of the country.

Gulf War

1991 3 March - Iraq accepts the terms of a ceasefire.

Surrender: An Iraqi soldier confronted by Allied forces

1991 24 February - The start of a ground operation which results in the liberation of Kuwait on 27 February.

1991 13 February - US planes destroy an air raid shelter at Amiriyah in Baghdad, killing over 300 people.

1991 16 -17 January - The Gulf War starts when the coalition forces begin aerial bombing of Iraq ("Operation Desert Storm").

1990 29 November - UNSC Resolution 678 authorizes the states cooperating with Kuwait to use "all necessary means" to uphold UNSC Resolution 660.

1990 8 August - Iraq announces the merger of Iraq and Kuwait.

1990 6 August - UNSC Resolution 661 imposes economic sanctions on Iraq.

1990 2 August - Iraq invades Kuwait and is condemned by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 660 which calls for full withdrawal.