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BAGHDAD, Jan 29: On the eve of Iraq's elections, here is a chronology of events since the US-led invasion 22 months ago:
MARCH 2003
20: The United States invades Iraq after Saddam Hussein ignores a deadline to leave the country. It says it mounted a limited strike on a Baghdad building where Saddam was believed to be staying.
APRIL
9: US forces penetrate into the heart of Baghdad, where they topple a large statue of Saddam Hussein, an act held as symbolizing the toppling of the government.
MAY
1: US President George Bush declares that major combat is over.
6: Paul Bremer, a counterterrorism specialist, is named civil administrator.
JULY
6: Mr Bremer confirms the creation of an Interim Governing Council (IGC) equipped with real executive powers.
22: Saddam's sons Uday and Qusay are killed in the northern city of Mosul by US forces after a tipoff.
AUG
14: The UN Security Council approves the establishment of the Interim Governing Council but without explicitly recognizing it as Washington wanted.
19: A suicide car bomb rips the UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing the world body's representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and 21 others.
29: A car bomb explodes in Najaf, killing Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr al Hakim and 81 others in the first high-level assassination of the US-led occupation.
DEC
13: US announces capture of Saddam Hussein near Tikrit.
MARCH 2004
8: A provisional constitution is signed, opening the way to a transfer of power to a transitional authority by June 30.
APRIL
4: Followers of radical Shia leader Moqtada Sadr demonstrate in Najaf following the arrest of a top Sadr aide.
5: US marines launch a major offensive against guerrillas in Fallujah.
JUNE
1: Interim government unveiled in Baghdad as IGC dissolved.
28: Mr Bremer hands document declaring Iraq sovereign to top officials and flies out of country.
JULY
28: Seventy people killed in suicide bombing outside police building in Baquba.
SEPT
14: Attack on police headquarters in Baghdad claimed by supporters of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al Zarqawi kills 49 people.
OCT
8: Beheading announced of British hostage Ken Bigley, who was kidnapped in Baghad in September along with two US colleagues who were also beheaded by the Zarqawi group.
23: 49 Iraqi army recruits and three civilian drivers massacred in ambush north of Baghdad.
NOV
7: Iraqi government declares 60-day state of emergency in all regions except the Kurdish north.
8: More than 10,000 US soldiers launch assault on Fallujah.
DEC
10: Official death toll of US soldiers killed in combat tops 1,000.
19: Najaf and Karbala are rocked by two attacks that kill a total of 66 people and wound almost 200 others.
21: Twenty people, including 18 Americans, are killed in an attack on a US base in Mosul.
- 2005 -JAN
12: White House announces end to fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
26: Thirty marines and a sailor died in a helicopter crash, the biggest single US loss of life in the country.-AFP
