Events
Saddam Hussein becomes president of Iraq, after engineering the resignation of president Hasan al-Bakr.Border dispute between Iran and Iraq escalates into full-scale war. Open war as Iraq is bombedSaddam Hussein's administration uses chemical weapons against Kurds at Halabja in Iraq: more than 5,000 die.Iran-Iraq war ends; at least a million people are thought to have died, but neither side has achieved any significant territorial gain.Iraq invades Kuwait. UN security council resolution 660 calls for full withdrawal.UN imposes economic sanctions on Iraq.Gulf War starts. US-led coalition begins air strikes against Iraq. Allied planes bomb Iraq: Kuwait's liberation begun says the US.Kuwait is liberated after three-day ground operation.Iraq accepts terms of ceasefire.Iraq accepts UN resolution requiring it to end production of weapons of mass destruction and to allow monitoring by the UN special commission inspection team (UNSCOM).UN 'safe haven' established in northern Iraq for protection of Kurds.The No-fly zone was established in southern Iraq.US conducts air strikes against Iraqi intelligence service, in retaliation for assassination plot against former president George Bush.'Oil-for-food' programme begins, allowing Iraq to export oil to buy food and medicine.Periods
Kurdish refugees flee as Iraq bombs
northern towns. The valleys of death:
refugees appeal for Western intervention.Iraq threatens to withdraw cooperation
with inspectors unless some sanctions
and oil embargo are lifted by August 31.UN inspection teams denied access to militarily sensitive sites.
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