The Iraqi reactions were mixed: some rejoiced at Saddam Hussein's ouster, pulling down his statues across the country; elsewhere a resistance movement was born quickly and began targeting the Americans and Allied soldiers. Protests against Iraq's occupation also grew and continue till date.

May 12: A new civil administrator took over in Iraq. L Paul 'Jerry' Bremer, former head of the counter-terrorism department at the US State Department, replaced General Jay Garner, who was seen as ineffective in stemming the continuing lawlessness in Iraq.

May 19: Thousands of Shia and Sunni Muslims protested in Baghdad against the US occupation.

May 22: The UN Security Council approved a resolution backing the US-led occupation in Iraq and lifting economic sanctions.

June 28: US military commanders ordered a halt to local elections and self-rule in provincial cities and towns across Iraq. Handpicked mayors and administrators were installed, many of who were former Iraqi military leaders.

July 9: In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admitted the cost of US forces in Iraq was $3.9 billion a month -- double the previously reported figure, and not including funds for reconstruction or relief. The hearings affirmed that 140,000 US troops would remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

July 13: Iraq's interim governing council, composed of 25 Iraqis appointed by US and British officials, was inaugurated. The council has the power to name ministers and will help draw up a new constitution for the country. But US Administrator Paul Bremer retained ultimate authority.

July 17: United States combat deaths in Iraq reach 147, the same number of soldiers who died from hostile fire in the first Gulf War. Of the total, 32 occurred after May 1, the officially declared end of combat.

Text: Ramananda Sengupta

Complete coverage: The Gulf War