TIMELINE - Gabon and Omar Bongo

(Reuters) - Africa's longest serving president, Gabon's Omar Bongo, has died after 41 years in power, French media reported on Sunday.

Here is a short chronology of events in Gabon since it achieved independence from France in August 1960.

Feb 1961 - Leon M'ba, leader of Bloc Democratique Gabonais (BDG), is elected president.

Feb 1964 - M'ba is kidnapped and deposed in an attempted military coup. Jean-Hilaire Aubame assumes control with the help of a Revolutionary Committee. Two days later, French paratroopers land in Gabon and crush the military coup.

April 1964 - In a rescheduled election, the BDG captures 31 of the 47 seats in the National Assembly.

Almost three years later, new elections give the BDG all 47 seats. M'ba is re-elected president and Albert Bernard Bongo vice-president.

Nov 1967 - Bongo becomes president and leader of the BDG on the death of M'ba.

March 1968 - Bongo decrees Gabon to be a one-party state and changes the BDG to the Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG), or Gabon Democratic Party.

Oct 1973 - Bongo converts to Islam and assumes the first name of Omar.