Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging on Saturday morning. Following is a chronology of events surrounding Saddam's trials at the U.S.-backed Iraqi High Tribunal in Baghdad.

Oct. 19, 2005 - Saddam is charged with crimes against humanity for the killing of 148 Shiite men after a 1982 assassination attempt against him in the town of Dujail. He pleads not guilty.

Dec. 7, 2005 - Saddam does not attend the hearing after he told the court to "go to hell" a day earlier.

Jan. 23, 2006 - Raouf Abdel Rahman is named as the temporary chief judge after chief judge Rizgar Amin resigns protesting at government pressure.

Jan. 29, 2006 - Saddam and co-defendants stage a walk-out as defence lawyers call for trial to be moved abroad.

March 1, 2006 - Saddam, acknowledging he ordered trials that led to the execution of dozens of Shiites in the 1980s, says he acted within the law.

May 15, 2006 - Saddam refuses to enter a plea after he is formally charged with ordering the killing and torture of Shiites in Dujail.

June 19, 2006 - Prosecutors ask for death sentences for Saddam.

June 21, 2006 - Khamis al-Obaidi, the No. 2 lawyer on Saddam's defence team, is kidnapped and killed.

Aug. 21, 2006 - Saddam's second trial, on charges of war crimes against Iraqi Kurds, begins. He refuses to plead.

Sept. 19, 2006 - Mohammed al-Ureybi is named to take over the court after the government sacks chief judge Abdullah al-Amiri for saying that Saddam was not a dictator.

Nov. 5, 2006 - Saddam is sentenced to death.

Nov. 7, 2006 - Saddam returns to court to face genocide charges.

Dec. 3, 2006 - Lawyers appeal against Saddam's death sentence.

Dec. 18, 2006 - The Anfal trial resumes with prosecutors producing documentary evidence crucial to proving Saddam's personal responsibility.

Dec. 26, 2006 - Dujail verdicts are upheld by Iraqi appeals court. The Iraqi High Tribunal rules say execution must follow within 30 days.

Source: Xinhua