A brief chronology about Rhodesia (that became Zimbabwe).

1965: Rhodesia breaks from UK. The Rhodesian Government, led by Prime Minister Ian Smith, has illegally severed its links with the British Crown. Mr Smith made the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) after days of tense negotiations with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. His address to the people of Rhodesia said he had taken the action, "so that dignity and freedom of all may be assured". After the proclamation he explained: "There can be no happiness in a country while the absurd situation continues to exist where people, such as ourselves, who have ruled themselves with an impeccable record for over 40 years, are denied what is freely granted to other countries." British authorities were only prepared to permit independence on the basis of giving the black majority population a fair share of power. Under Mr Smith's system there will be white minority rule, where 220,000 white Rhodesians will enjoy privileges over nearly four million black Rhodesians. Harold Wilson told a packed and solemn House of Commons the Labour Government would not be sending troops to deal with the crisis. Instead he announced a full-range of sanctions including ceasing all British aid to and preferential treatment for Rhodesia, banning the import of Rhodesian tobacco and recalling the British High Commissioner. Both Rhodesian opposition parties - the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) have declared breakaway governments. They have both called upon the British Government to use force to suspend the Smith Government. Zanu has also petitioned the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity for assistance. Zapu National Treasurer Jason Mayo gave a statement before leaving London - where he has been in exile - to set up his rival government in Lusaka, Zambia. "Treason and rebellion have been committed. The lives particularly of four million unarmed Africans are in jeopardy," he said. The Kenyan Government has offered support to "our African brothers in Southern Rhodesia", but did not refer specifically to Zanu or Zapu. 1966: UK politicians assaulted in Rhodesia. Three visiting members of the British parliament have been attacked at a meeting in a hotel in Salisbury, the capital of Rhodesia. Labour MPs Christopher Rowland, Jeremy Bray and David Ennals are on a private factfinding mission in the southern African country that illegally declared independence from Britain last year. Mr Rowland had arranged what was to be a question-and-answer session with supporters of Ian Smith, Rhodesia's prime minister.

But heckling among the 400 or so people who attended turned to violence and police had to break up the meeting and rescue the politicians from the shouting mob. 'Good Old Smithy' At one point Mr Rowland, MP for Meriden in Warwickshire, lunged across a table to get back some his papers that had been taken by a member of the audience. He fell down and was kicked, punched and had a jug of water poured over him. Mr Bray, MP for Middlesbrough, was also jostled as he tried to help his colleague. Special branch police moved in to hustle the three MPs to safety. There was a large contingent of members of the pro-Smith Rhodesian Front and the leftwing Candour League who interrupted the session with shouts of "Good old Smithy". When the British MPs tried to answer questions raised their voices were drowned out by shouts of "Liar! Liar!" and "Rotten swine" and "Go to hell". They were called "dirty representatives of communism" and at one point were asked if they had ever been members of the Communist Party. Mr Rowland replied "no" but was greeted with the response "Communist, Communist." As the meeting became noisier, the MPs appealed for calm but to no avail. Tonight the three men issued a statement saying they had since received written apologies from some Rhodesians who said the "disgusting reception" was "not typical of supporters of Rhodesia". The statement said: "We regret tonight's incident mainly because of the impression it will convey to the world outside in an already difficult situation." The authorities in Rhodesia said pointed out that the meeting was illegal under emergency laws which ban public meetings of more than 12 people without government permission. The deputy Minister of Information, Pieter van der Byl, said the MPs should have accepted his invitation to organise a programme for them during their visit. 1970: Ian Smith declares Rhodesia a republic. The Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Smith, has declared his country a republic, cutting its last link with the British Crown. The new Rhodesian Republic, came into being at 2301BST yesterday, unrecognised by the rest of the world and barely noticed by Rhodesians themselves. Mr Smith signed a proclamation officially dissolving the current parliament and introducing a new Republican Constitution. The ceremony took place at Government House, until last year the official residence of Sir Humphrey Gibbs and his predecessors as governor and representative of the British Crown. The creation of the republic breaks an 80-year-old link with the British monarchy - but has been widely anticipated since Mr Smith unilaterally declared the country independent of Britain four years ago. Since then, Rhodesia has left the Commonwealth and been subject to tough international sanctions. Mr Smith said: "Today is not such a tremendous day for us Rhodesians. Our Independence Day is the great day.

"Rhodesia did not want to seize independence from Britain. It was forced upon us." The real question now is whether a Rhodesian republic will gain any international recognition. The chairman of Mr Smith's Rhodesian Front party, Ralph Nielson, said: "We have cut our ties as to whether or not a republic is going to make all that difference, I sincerely believe it will, particularly in the eyes of the rest of the world. "I believe various things are going to flow, improved trade and without a doubt, in time, diplomatic recognition." The British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, has already made clear his Labour government will not recognise the new regime in Rhodesia. The United States has also indicated it will not recognise Smith's republic "under any circumstances 1972: Rhodesia's former leader arrested. Two leading white campaigners for black majority rule in Rhodesia have been arrested. The former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, Garfield Todd, and his daughter, Judith, were seized after violence erupted over Anglo-Rhodesian plans for independence. No reason was given for their arrests, but Mr Todd has a ranch in Shabani, which is recognised as a hotbed of nationalist activity. Last week, police shot dead a man and nine others were injured after 400 miners rioted. The trouble began with the arrival on 11 January of members of the Pearce Commission, appointed by the British government to test public opinion to the settlement proposals. The plans include a massive injection of British development aid and money for education, linked to more votes for black Rhodesians. There is also provision for black majority rule in the future, but most black Rhodesians want it now. The Pearce Commission has been holding hearings around the country to explain the proposals and listen to public opinion. A decision to abandon the hearings in the city of Gwelo because of the violence, sparked another big demonstration which police had to break up using tear gas. On 18 January, Prime Minister Ian Smith retaliated against the demonstrators by ordering the arrests of Mr Todd and his daughter. Mr Todd was ousted as Southern Rhodesia's prime minister by Mr Smith's right-wing Rhodesia Front party in 1962. He had always supported the rights of the black majority but he has now become an outspoken critic of the increasingly repressive white regime. Mr Todd and his daughter have also played a leading role in the anti-settlement campaign organised by the African National Council. The council has been set up by black Rhodesians to seek political settlement through negotiation. The couple are being held in separate jails. Mr Todd said: "It's not very pleasant after having lived in Rhodesia 31 years and having tried to serve the country, to be placed in really what is a comfortable imprisonment without trial. I'm old-fashioned,

"I don't believe in imprisonment without trial." 1975: Rhodesia peace talks fail. Talks between the Rhodesian Government and the African National Council (ANC) have collapsed acrimoniously. Negotiations to bring about a cease fire in the civil war broke up after Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith refused to grant immunity to African nationalist leaders attending the talks. "It would involve people who are well-known terrorist leaders who bear responsibility for the murders and other atrocities which have been perpetrated in this country," Mr Smith said. The ANC leader, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, said any hope of achieving a settlement depended on Mr Smith being prepared to compromise. "If Mr Smith cannot go with us on very small things like this (diplomatic immunity), we think he cannot be serious," Bishop Muzorewa said. No compromise The talks were held in a railway carriage on the Victoria Falls Bridge midway between Rhodesia and Zambia. The presidents of South Africa and Zambia, the principal allies of Rhodesia and the ANC respectively, acted as mediators at the talks. But after nine-and-a-half hours of discussions they were unable to find a compromise to save the negotiations. Mr Smith is now expected to employ tough new military measures against the guerrillas. The guerrillas, mainly members of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), are said to have been training several thousand men in Zambia and Mozambique. Mr Smith will also try to win support among "moderate" African leaders for a phased transition to black rule. 1976: White rule in Rhodesia to end. The Rhodesian Government has agreed to introduce black majority rule to the country within two years. Prime Minister Ian Smith announced the news five days after hearing the proposals of the United States-led diplomatic delegation. The plan presented to him by US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had been formulated by the American and British Governments. But Mr Smith made it clear he was only accepting the plan under pressure and was not happy with the conditions. In a broadcast to the nation from the capital Salisbury, Rhodesia's premier outlined the first of six steps agreed with Dr Kissinger. An interim government is to be established and the violent guerrilla warfare being waged

by factions of the country's black population must end. In return international sanctions against the state, which declared its independence from the United Kingdom 11 years ago, would end. UK Prime Minister James Callaghan welcomed his counterpart's acceptance of the proposals, saying it was a decisive step forward. "It offers a real hope of bringing peace to Rhodesia and of averting the threat of intensifying warfare and bloodshed," he said. Despite the hopes of peace Mr Smith announced he was only taking the step reluctantly. "I would be dishonest if I did not state quite clearly that the proposals which were put to us in Pretoria do not represent what in our view would be the best solution to Rhodesia's problems," he said. But the prime minister ended his speech by urging his countrymen to make the agreement work. "I hope all Rhodesians will join with me in dedicating themselves to ensure that there can only be one answer - success," he said 1977: Smith keeps power in Rhodesia. Ian Smith's ruling Rhodesian Front has won an overwhelming victory in the country's general election. The party made a clean sweep of all the 50 seats reserved for whites in the 66-seat parliament. The result represents a decisive defeat for 12 right-wingers who split from Mr Smith's party because of his plans for constitutional change. Mr Smith advocates a phased introduction to black-majority rule. Last year he accepted a US plan to introduce black rule to Rhodesia within two years. However, the newly-formed Rhodesian Action Party campaigned on an anti-majority rule platform. Their defeat in all the seats they contested is seen as strengthening Mr Smith's position. Ideas being proposed by Britain and America which call for a swift transition to black rule were backed by the left-of-centre National Unifying Force. At the polls their candidates were also trounced by the Rhodesian Front. Speaking after the election count, Mr Smith told journalists he believed the scale of his victory would give him more leverage to produce an internal settlement. "I am satisfied it has strengthened my hand tremendously. Nobody but a fool would disregard the kind of result we witnessed today," Mr Smith said. But the prime minister promised to give the Anglo-American proposals careful consideration. Mr Smith said: "No matter how unpalatable at first sight, we will give them very careful thorough consideration and investigation before attempting to pass judgement." In spite of Mr Smith's preference for a phased handover to black rule, Wednesday's election is widely expected to be the last time a white-majority parliament will be returned

in Rhodesia. Under the current voting system, the country's 85,000 white voters elect 50 white MPs. However, just eight black MPs are elected to represent the country's 6m black people because only 7,000 of them are eligible to vote. Ian Smith has been Rhodesia's prime minister since 1964. He unilaterally declared independence from Britain the following year. 1979: End of white rule in Rhodesia. Rhodesia has formally ended nearly 90 years of white minority rule and declared it will now be known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. In the absence of any official ceremony crowds of revellers, mainly black, gathered in the streets of Salisbury and surrounding townships at midnight to mark the change. But although the name may have changed and there are 12 black faces in the cabinet under a new, black prime minister - Bishop Muzorewa - much will stay the same. The man in overall command of the military will remain in his post, as will those in charge of the army, air force and police. The jobs of top civil servants - all white - are protected under the new constitution. The flag will also remain unchanged. Ian Smith, although no longer prime minister, will remain in government. At his final news conference in the top job Mr Smith said the less change there was the better, setting himself at odds with new Prime Minister Muzorewa, who said he hoped changes would be "very fast" in coming. Mr Smith warned that "pushing people forward simply because of their colour, irrespective of merit, would be most unfortunate and would of course lead to disaster". He continued: "It would mean that Rhodesia would then develop into a kind of banana republic where the country would in no time be bankrupt." Mr Smith, who has moved from his official residency to a more humble abode, said he would be asleep during the changeover. The new government has yet to be officially recognised by Britain and the United States 1979: Rhodesia reverts to British rule. The Zimbabwe-Rhodesian Parliament has voted itself out of office and handed power back to the British until democratic elections can take place. Both the House of Assembly and the Senate unanimously approved the Constitution of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Bill. The country will be renamed Zimbabwe after the elections. The new law effectively revokes the illegal 1965 unilateral declaration of independence, or UDI, which led to 14 years of white minority rule under the former Prime Minister Ian Smith.

The British Governor-Designate, Lord Soames, will arrive in the capital, Salisbury, tomorrow to take over from the current president, Josiah Gumede. One of his most pressing tasks will be to control the violence between the black opposition group, the Patriotic Front, and the Rhodesian military. "No viable alternative" Last year an "internal settlement" was signed by Mr Smith and Bishop Abel Muzorewa, the leader of the only recognised black party, the United African National Council, A whites-only referendum in January this year approved a new constitution for ZimbabweRhodesia. In April's elections for transitional legislature - boycotted by the Patriotic Front made up of Zanu and Zapu - Bishop Muzorewa and his UANC won. He took office as prime minister in June but the Government of National Unity fell short of international and opposition parties' demands for black majority rule, leading to continued sanctions and violent rebellion. Now the former white rulers have had to accept that the 14-year rebellion against the British Crown has ended and a new chapter in the nation's history is about to begin. Introducing the bill in parliament, the Minister of Justice, Chris Anderson told both black and white MPs that there was no point in being negative about the changes. He said: "I believe there would be far more profit in concentrating on what has been won." And even Paddy Milton, a member of the white supremacist Rhodesian Front party, said he supported the bill because there was "no viable alternative" but to return to British rule until elections were held. In what some have described as a final act of defiance, Mr Smith will not attend Lord Soame's official welcome party at Salisbury airport tomorrow afternoon. His spokesman says he will be unable to attend because he will be away. 1979: Joy as guerrillas fly in to Rhodesia. A group of 96 Patriotic Front guerrillas have arrived in the Rhodesian capital of Salisbury to a rapturous welcome. The soldiers have been flown in from Lusaka, Zambia, the base from where they have fought a decade-long civil war against the minority white government of former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith. They will join about 1,500 peacekeeping troops from across the Commonwealth, as well as government soldiers from the Rhodesian Security Force, to monitor the ceasefire which starts at midnight on 28 December. The ceasefire is part of the Lancaster House agreement, signed last week in London after three months of negotiating. The agreement paves the way to black majority rule in Southern Rhodesia, while enshrining white minority rights. Return to British rule

As a first step towards the transfer of power, the new British governor of Southern Rhodesia, Lord Soames, returned the country to British rule on 12 December. The move brought to an end Ian Smith's "internal settlement" under which the country was governed by moderate black Prime Minister Bishop Abel Muzorewa. The settlement was widely discredited after it failed to stop the fighting. The ceasefire monitoring force is the next step towards ending the guerrilla war ahead of elections planned for next year. The two armed groups which make up the Patriotic Front flew in separately to take part. First to arrive were 52 members of the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (Zipra), led by Joshua Nkomo. Later, 44 members of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (Zanla) flew in. 'The boys are back in town' Their arrival was eagerly awaited by more than 7,000 Patriotic Front supporters who had gathered at the airport early this morning. Some came by bus or car, while others walked the several miles from the city to the airport. Many carried banners, while others gave Black Power salutes. They shouted slogans like "Welcome home comrades" and "The boys are back in town". There were unruly scenes as a group of supporters tried to break down a 7ft (2.13m) high security fence to mob the busload of guerrillas. Police used guard dogs and batons to beat them back. The leader of the Zipra group, Lookout Masuku, told reporters that he was "very happy to be home". He promised that he and his supporters would abide by the conditions of the ceasefire, and said he believed it would work. Lord Soames visited some of the ceasefire monitoring troops at a transit camp near Salisbury airport yesterday, and warned that some Patriotic Front guerrillas are expected to ignore the ceasefire. "We expect the majority of the guerrillas to come in, but not the hardcore ones," he said 1980: Exiled Mugabe returns to Rhodesia. Rhodesia opposition leader Robert Mugabe has made a triumphant return to his home country after five years in exile. Cheering crowds greeted Mr Mugabe's arrival in the capital, Salisbury, from Mozambique where he has been gathering support for his Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) or Zanu (PF) party. The Rhodesian black nationalist leader, who spearheaded a guerrilla war against the

Salisbury government, told a tumultuous rally of supporters there would be no more injustice based on race and colour. An estimated 200,000 or more people were at the Zimbabwe grounds in the Highfield black township of Salisbury to greet Mr Mugabe. It was by far the largest crowd to attend a rally given by any of the black political parties taking part in next month's election. The last barrier to Mr Mugabe's return was an assurance from President Machel of Mozambique to the British governor that 71 detainees held at Mr Mugabe's request would be released soon. British officials say at least three of the men being held are election candidates and two are abducted white people. During the rally, Mr Mugabe spoke mostly in his native Shona, but he appealed in English to white Rhodesians, saying "Stay with us, please remain in this country and constitute a nation based on national unity." He spoke of the hunger for land was the "deepest of all grievances among our people". He continued: "We will not seize land from anyone who has a use for it. Farmers who are able to be productive and prove useful to society will find us co-operative." He said in other areas of the economy, he would "try to leave things as they are". Mr Mugabe had strong words about Britain. He accused British Governor Lord Soames of manipulating the political situation against Zanu. Muzorewa supporter beaten A man suspected of being a supporter of Bishop Muzorewa, the outgoing prime minister, was seized by members of the crowd and accused of carrying a gun. He was carried in front of the rostrum where Mr Mugabe was standing and kicked and punched and eventually stripped of his clothes and hurled under the stand. 1980: Mugabe to lead independent Zimbabwe. Nationalist leader Robert Mugabe has won a sweeping election victory to become Zimbabwe's first black prime minister. Mr Mugabe's radical Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) party or Zanu (PF) won 57 of the 80 black seats being contested in the country's first election since the end of white minority rule. It is enough to give Mr Mugabe a comfortable majority, even when the 20 seats reserved for whites are taken into account. He told a news conference the new government would include his former chief guerrilla rival, Joshua Nkomo, and his Patriotic Front party, which won 20 seats. He also made clear he would consider bringing Europeans into the administration "so as to bring about a government that will be reassuring to all people of Zimbabwe". Bishop Abel Muzorewa's United African National Council, UANC, party won only three votes - a humiliating defeat for the party which only 10 months ago was riding high in the polls. News of Mr Mugabe's election victory was announced over radio and television sending thousands of enthusiastic black Zimbabweans onto the streets shouting for joy. Mr Mugabe's symbol, the cockerel or jongwe, inspired his supporters to constant crowing

and arm-flapping. Many ran out onto the streets with live birds. The celebrations were largely good-natured and there were no signs of racial tensions. But overhead and at key crossroads in the capital, Salisbury, and the black townships, the security forces maintained a constant vigil. Zimbabwe's business and farming communities have reacted to Mr Mugabe's election victory with caution. The Salisbury stock exchange fell sharply when the results were announced but recovered later in the afternoon. Former prime minister Ian Smith told the BBC: "I think Rhodesians are pretty pragmatic and full of experience. "I don't visualise them resorting to panic action, stampeding. I think they will act in a very mature, responsible way. After all it's our country, where will we run to?" In a broadcast on television tonight, Mr Mugabe said: "I wish to assure you that there can never be any return to the state of armed conflict which existed before our commitment to peace and the democratic process of election under the Lancaster House agreement. 1983: Nkomo flees Zimbabwe 'death threats'. The embattled leader of Zimbabwe's opposition party, Joshua Nkomo, has flown into London as his country appears to be teetering on the brink of civil war. Mr Nkomo, leader of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) party, says he was forced to flee from Zimbabwe because his life was in danger. Troops from the Fifth Brigade have sealed off his power base in the Ndebele people's stronghold of Bulawayo. Ethnic tensions between the Ndebele and Shona tribes within Zimbabwe have been rising since President Robert Mugabe accused Mr Nkomo of attempting to overthrow his government last year. Mr Nkomo told a news conference, held at midnight in Bulawayo last Sunday (a week ago), the soldiers had been sent to assassinate him. He also claimed the North Koreantrained troops had killed his chauffeur and ransacked his home. He has previously denounced the Fifth Brigade as a "political army" because they are mostly made up of Shona tribesmen supporting the ruling Zanu-PF party. The day after his news conference, he fled - first to Botswana by crossing a deserted part of the border in a Land Rover. The Botswana Government issued a brief statement saying Mr Nkomo had temporarily left Zimbabwe to try to resolve the country's problems. He was clearly not welcome in Botswana and travelled to South Africa, to take a plane from Johannesburg to Heathrow airport. The 66-year-old veteran was questioned for an hour by officials at Heathrow airport before he was allowed into the country. He has been told his stay is only temporary. His arrival will be an embarrassment to the British Government, which is anxious to maintain good relations with the Zimbabwe government of Robert Mugabe. Despite being ordered not to get involved in political activities, Mr Nkomo immediately held a news conference at Heathrow. "It is absolutely vital that everything is done to try to solve the problem of that country and be able to minimise the violence that has now found us in this grave situation," he said.

"There is nothing that will make me not go back to that country." Zimbabwe's information minister insisted Mr Nkomo's safety was assured - but said meaningful talks could happen only if he returned to Harare. Mr Nkomo's outspoken comments are likely to enhance his position as the partriarch of black nationalism in Zimbabwe. Zipra - the military wing of Zapu - is believed to be regrouping in Matabeleland against Mr Mugabe's government. Hundreds of men are said to have left their homes in the past few weeks to join up. There is little doubt they have access to large quantities of arms. 1986: South African raids wreck peace bid. South African troops have launched raids on three neighbouring countries in an effort to destroy bases purportedly used by the guerrilla organisation, the African National Congress (ANC). At least three people are reported dead after this morning's co-ordinated attacks on cities in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana by South African warplanes, helicopters and commandos. The raids have severely jeopardised diplomatic efforts by a Commonwealth mission now in South Africa. The Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group had been trying to negotiate a peaceful settlement with South Africa's ruling National Party and Prime Minister PW Botha to bring an end to national strife caused by the apartheid regime. Five of the seven delegates have already left Cape Town in protest. Call for sanctions. Along with Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania, the three nations attacked today form the so-called "frontline states" that support the ANC in their struggle against white minority rule. But all three deny providing the ANC with military bases. There has been widespread condemnation of South Africa in the West and across Southern Africa. Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda called the raids a "dastardly, cowardly action". The government of Botswana issued a statement condemning "this naked act of aggression against our country". And the Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal called the move "a declaration of war" and demanded immediate economic sanctions against South Africa. But the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, while condemning the attacks are ignoring calls for early sanctions against Pretoria. News of the raids - on Gaborone in Botswana, Zimbabwe's capital, Harare and Lusaka in Zambia - came in an announcement by the head of the South African Army, Lieutenant General AJ Liebenberg. "The action taken against the terrorists should be interpreted as indicative of the firm resolve of the Republic of South Africa to use all the means at its disposal against terrorists wherever they may be," he said.