CHRONOLOGY-Key events in life of Indonesia's Suharto

(Reuters) - Former Indonesian strongman Suharto died on Sunday in hospital after suffering multiple organ failure.

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

June 8, 1921 -Born in Kemusuk village near the Javanese royal city of Yogyakarta.

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

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

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

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

March 21, 1967 - Suharto formally named acting president by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Elected by MPR as president a year later.

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

July 1997 - Economic crisis hits Asia. On Oct 8 Indonesia asks IMF for financial help. IMF unveils a 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 - Announces resignation. Final death toll from rioting nearly 1,200. Ten days later Attorney-General orders a probe of Suharto's wealth amid graft allegations.

Aug 31, 2000 - Fails to appear for first day of graft trial. Court declares Suharto too ill to stand trial on Sept 28.

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

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

May 23, 2007 - The Attorney-General's office announces that it will sue Suharto in a civil action in a bid to recover state funds.

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

Jan 4, 2008 - Suharto admitted to hospital with heart, kidney and lung problems.

Jan 27, 2008 - Suharto dies in hospital.