Saddam Hussein has been in power in Iraq since 1979 and shows little sign of relinquishing his grip. Now 63, he is likely to be succeeded by his son, Uday.

Four months after Saddam invaded Kuwait, US President George Bush sent 425,000 American troops to liberate the territory. His forces won a stunning military victory which translated into unprecedented popularity.

However, a faltering economy and rising crime caused his presidency to falter, and Mr Bill Clinton defeated him in the 1992 election.

Like Saddam, Mr Bush has two sons in politics, and Mr George W. Bush is the current presidential favourite. His running mate, Mr Dick Cheney, was Mr Bush snr's secretary of defence and directed Operation Desert Storm.

Mrs Margaret Thatcher was British prime minister when Saddam invaded Kuwait in August 1990, but she had been pressured into resigning by the time of the Gulf War.

Her protege, Mr John Major, was an enthusiastic supporter of the war effort and co-operated closely with the US.

Ten days after the war started, an opinion poll found he was the most popular British prime minister of the century. Two months later, however, Labour passed the Conservatives in the polls. Mr Major and the Conservatives were re-elected in 1992, but defeated in 1997.

King Hussein of Jordan opted for neutrality in the Gulf War, despite heavy pressure from the US. He died last year after a long battle with cancer.

Israel suffered five weeks of intermittent Scud missile attacks from Iraq, but was restrained by the US from retaliating.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir was defeated in elections in 1992, and bowed out of politics four years later.