TIMELINE: Pakistan's Bhutto buried

(Reuters) - Thousands of mourners wept in grief as the body of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's slain former prime minister, was buried in her family mausoleum on Friday.

Here is a chronology of recent major political events.

March 9, 2007 - President Pervez Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry over allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally around the top judge and Musharraf's popularity plummets.

July 10 - Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement there. At least 105 people are killed. Militant attacks and suicide bombings follow.

July 20 - Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry, dealing a blow to Musharraf's authority.

July 27 - Musharraf meets former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi for inconclusive talks on how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto demands that Musharraf step down as army chief.

Sept 10 - Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from exile, despite the Supreme Court clearing his return. He is deported to Saudi Arabia.

Oct 2 - Musharraf's government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.

Oct 6 - Musharraf wins a presidential vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.

Oct 19 - Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile. At least 139 people are killed in one of the country's deadliest attacks.

Nov 2 - Supreme Court reconvenes to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while army chief.

Nov 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.

Nov 11 - Musharraf says election will be held by January 8.

Nov 13 - Bhutto is placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before planned march against emergency rule. Bhutto says Musharraf must quit as president.

Nov 14 - Sharif says he is ready to work with Bhutto.

Nov 15 - Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker government to oversee elections.

Nov 25 - Sharif returns from exile.

Nov 28 - A tearful Musharraf hands over command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.

Nov 29 - Musharraf is sworn in as a civilian leader.

Nov 30 - Bhutto publishes her manifesto for the January election, keeping open the option of boycotting the vote.

Dec 9 - Sharif says he will take part in January 8 election.

Dec 15 - Musharraf lifts state of emergency and restores the constitution.

Dec 27 - Bhutto is assassinated in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in Rawalpindi. At least 16 people die in all.

Dec 28 - Benazir Bhutto is buried in her home province of Sindh in the south.

-- Violence flares in Pakistan as angry supporters of Bhutto take to the streets. At least 17 people, including three policemen, have been killed in violent protests.

(Writing by David Cutler and Gill Murdoch, London Editorial Reference Unit)