CHRONOLOGY: Key events in life of Indonesia's Suharto

(Reuters) - Former Indonesian strongman Suharto is in hospital with multiple organ failure, and doctors are battling to save his life.

Following is a chronology of the key events in his life:

June 8, 1921 - Suharto born in Kemusuk village near Javanese royal city of Yogyakarta.

Around 1940 - Suharto joins Dutch colonial army as corporal. For three years, between 1942 and 1945, Suharto is platoon commander in Japanese-trained "Indonesian army", later fights with Indonesian guerrillas against Dutch.

1962 - Leads Indonesian military operation to take over West Papua. One year later heads army's strategic command (Kostrad), largest army division of stand-by soldiers.

Sept 30, 1965 - Suharto crushes coup attempt blamed on communists, leading to purges of suspected communists and sympathizers. Up to 500,000 people are killed between October 1965 and early 1966.

March 11, 1966 - Power is transferred from founding president Sukarno to Suharto.

March 21, 1967 - Suharto is formally named acting president by People's Consultative Assembly, which elects him president a year later.

Dec 7, 1975 - Indonesian troops invade East Timor, annexed as country's 27th province in 1976 in move never recognized by the United Nations.

July 1997 - Economic crisis hits Asia. On October 8 Indonesia asks IMF for financial help. IMF unveils bail-out aid package of $40 billion at end of October.

March 11, 1998 - Nationwide protests follow Suharto's re-appointment by MPR.

May 21, 1998 - Suharto announces resignation. Final death toll from rioting is nearly 1,200. Ten days later attorney-general orders probe of Suharto's wealth amid graft allegations. He and his family deny any wrongdoing.

Aug 31, 2000 - Suharto fails to appear for first day of graft trial. On Sept 28 court declares him too ill to stand trial.

July 2002 - Suharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra is sentenced to 15 years in jail for masterminding murder of judge who had previously convicted him of corruption.

May 5, 2005 - Admitted to hospital in Jakarta suffering from intestinal bleeding and breathing problems. A year later he is back in the same hospital with similar conditions.

May 23, 2007 - The attorney-general's office says it will sue Suharto in civil action in bid to recover state funds.

Sept 10, 2007 - Supreme Court rules in favor of Suharto in libel suit against Time magazine, ordering it to pay more than $100 million in damages, for 1999 story alleging Suharto and his family had amassed fortune of around $15 billion.

Jan 4, 2008 - Suharto admitted to hospital, condition rapidly deteriorates.