// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var Saddam_trial_chronology = new Array(); Saddam_trial_chronology.ID = "Saddam_trial_chronology"; Saddam_trial_chronology.ID_WB = 9742348; Saddam_trial_chronology.sPubDate = "10/18/2005 9:10:21 PM GMT"; Saddam_trial_chronology.navsectionID = "3042923" Saddam_trial_chronology.appFmt = 2; Saddam_trial_chronology.itemsPerPage = 1; Saddam_trial_chronology.appWidth = 460; Saddam_trial_chronology.appHeader = "FACT FILE | Key events in Saddam Hussein's life"; Saddam_trial_chronology.appNavStyle = 3; Saddam_trial_chronology.appLayout = 1; Saddam_trial_chronology.copyHeight = 300; Saddam_trial_chronology.copyMargin = 9; Saddam_trial_chronology[i++] = new Array("","Key events in Saddam Hussein's life","Key events in Saddam Hussein's life","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); Saddam_trial_chronology[i-1].body = "—April 28, 1937: Born in village of Uja near desert town of Tikrit, north of Baghdad.

—1957: Joins underground Baath Socialist Party.

—1958: Arrested for killing brother-in-law, a communist; spends six months in prison.

—Oct. 7, 1959: Participates in Baath team that ambushes Iraqi strongman Abdel-Karim Kassem in Baghdad, wounding him. Saddam wounded in leg, flees country.

—Feb. 8, 1963: Returns from Egypt after Baath takes part in coup that overthrows and kills Kassem.

—July 30, 1968: Takes charge of internal security after Baath seizes power and authority passes to council headed by Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, Saddam’s cousin.

—July 16, 1979: Takes over as president from al-Bakr; launches purge of Baath.

—Sept. 22, 1980: Sends army into Iran, setting off eight-year war.

—March 28, 1988: Uses chemical weapons against Kurdish town of Halabja, killing estimated 5,000 civilians.

—Aug. 2, 1990: Invades Kuwait, leading to war with U.S.-led coalition that liberates Kuwait following February.

—March 1991: Crushes Shiite Muslim revolt in south and Kurdish revolt in north.

—March 20, 2003: Missed by bombing attack as U.S.-led forces open war to force his ouster.

—July 22, 2003: Sons Qusai and Odai killed in gunbattle with U.S. troops.

—Dec. 13, 2003: Captured by U.S. soldiers Tikrit.

—June 30, 2004: Transferred to Iraqi custody.

—July 1, 2004: Arraigned before judge and defiantly rejects charges of war crimes and genocide.

—Dec. 17, 2004: Sees Iraqi lawyer for first time since capture.

—June 13, 2005: Shown in video being questioned about 1982 massacre in Dujail.

—July 13, 2005: Faces first charges as tribunal chief judge says investigation into Dujail killings complete.

—Aug. 23, 2005: Fires legal team.

—Oct. 19, 2005: Scheduled to face trial in Dujail case."; // END editorial data