TIMELINE-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 recognised by the United Nations.