Key dates in Pervez Musharraf's tenure as Pakistani army chief and president:
OCT. 7, 1998: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appoints Musharraf as chief of army staff.
MAY 2, 1999: Pakistani and Indian troops clash at Kargil in divided Kashmir. Sharif later orders Musharraf to withdraw under U.S. pressure.
OCT. 12, 1999: Musharraf ousts Sharif and seizes power in coup. Sharif, accused of corruption, seeks exile.
JUNE 20, 2001: Musharraf appoints himself president of Pakistan while still army chief.
SEPT. 11, 2001: Al Qaeda launches hijacked jet attacks in the United States. Musharraf pledges Pakistan's support for America, abandoning the Taliban and enraging many devout Muslims.
APRIL 30, 2002: Musharraf holds disputed referendum to secure support to continue as president for a five-year term.
OCT. 10, 2002: Elections that observers consider flawed install a pro-Musharraf parliament.
DEC. 14, 2003: Explosives wreck a bridge in Rawalpindi just after Musharraf's car has passed. Days later, Musharraf survives twin suicide car bombings on same road.
DEC. 30, 2004: Musharraf reneges on promise to resign as army chief, gains support of parliament to stay on until 2007.
OCT. 6, 2007: Parliament elects Musharraf for new five-year term in vote boycotted by opposition.
NOV. 3, 2007: Musharraf declares a state of emergency, suspending the constitution and dismissing independent-minded judges as the Supreme Court was set to rule on the legality of his election.
NOV. 28, 2007: Musharraf steps down as army chief, becomes a civilian president.
DEC. 15, 2007: Musharraf lifts the state of emergency.
FEB. 18, 2008: Musharraf's opponents win parliamentary elections.
AUG. 8, 2008: Ruling coalition leaders, including Sharif, say they will seek to impeach Musharraf.
AUG. 18, 2008: Musharraf announces his resignation.
