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| 1961, Sept |
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| Iraqi offensive against KURDISH REBELS in northern Iraq. The Kurds, represented by the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), had demanded economic and cultural concessions from Baghdad (e.g., more investment in the north and official status for the Kurdish language). After repeated failures to reach a negotiated settlement, the government outlawed the KDP and sent troops to Kurdistan, where tribal rebels under MUSTAFA AL-BARZANI had declared a Kurdish state. A split appeared among Kurdish ranks after the formation of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (1964) by the former leaders of the KDP. Nevertheless, with the help of arms supplied from Iran, Barzani's forces retained their position as the strongest Kurdish faction. Hostilities temporarily ended after the negotiation (1970) of limited autonomy, the recognition of Kurdish as an official language, and political concessions such as the appointment of a Kurdish vice president. | 1 |
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| 1963, Feb. 8–9 |
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| MILITARY COUP. Qasim was overthrown and executed by an alliance of discontented army officers and radicals from the Ba`th Party. An uneasy coalition, in which the Ba‘th had a large and somewhat exaggerated presence, governed the country for another nine months. | 2 |
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| Nov. 18 |
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| A SECOND COUP, led by PRES. ABD AL-SALAM ARIF, overthrew the government and reduced the power of the Ba‘th Party. Few political institutions were established. No constitution was issued, no parliament was created, and few political parties were tolerated. Arif's power depended mainly on support from army officers (less so after Sept. 1965), government officials, and friends and relatives who were appointed to high positions. He died in an airplane crash (April 13, 1966) and was succeeded as president by his brother, Abd al-Rahman Arif, who exercised power in roughly the same manner. | 3 |
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