Burma's brutal, turbulent history.

Byline: BY DAMIEN FLETCHER

1057 First unified Burmese state at Pagan is founded by King Anawrahta.

1287 Mongols conquer Pagan.

1531 Toungoo dynasty reunites Burma.

1784 The Kingdom of Burma conquers the Kingdom of Arakan, bringing Burma's borders up to the edge of British India.

1824 Britain de clares war on Burma.

1826 Anglo-Burmese war ends. Burma gives up Arakan coastal strip to British India.

1852 Second war ends with Britain annexing Pegu, renamed Lower Burma.

1885 Third Anglo-Burmese war - Burma loses sovereignty and independence.

1937 Britain makes Burma a crown colony.

1941 Japan invades and occupies.

1945 British troops liberate Burma.

1948 Burma gains independence.

1962 Military coup led by General Ne Win forms single-party state - the Socialist Programme Party.

1975 Minority groups form opposition National Democratic Front.

1981 Ne Win hands presidency to San Yu, but is still SPP chairman.

1987 Currency devaluation fuels riots.

1988 Armed forces under General Saw Maung seize power and form the State Law And Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

1989 SLORC declares martial law. Aung San Suu Kyi (left) of National League For Democracy under house arrest.

1990 NLD wins general election - result is ignored by military.

1991 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi.

2007 Anti-government protests by Buddhist monks lead to a crackdown.

CAPTION(S):

PEACEFUL PROTEST: Monks