The following is a brief history of East Timor, the former Portuguese colony which today votes on whether to stay within Indonesia or choose independence.
1509: Portuguese warships first arrive.
1642: Portugal invades Timor in strength. At the same time, Dutch colonial rule expands over the rest of the archipelago.
1859: Treaty signed giving the eastern part of Timor island to Portugal and the west to the Dutch.
1942: Japan invades East Timor. More than 60,000 East Timorese die.
1945: East Timor back under Portuguese rule.
1974: New government in Portugal after military coup paves way for independence of colonies.
1975: August - Portuguese administration withdraws from Dili.
October - Indonesian troops already operating in East Timor. An international outcry after they kill five foreign journalists.
November - Left-wing Fretilin party declares East Timor independent.
December - Indonesia invades East Timor, just after US President Gerald Ford visits Jakarta.
1976: Indonesia declares East Timor its 27th province.
1989: Indonesia declares East Timor an open province, lifting most travel restrictions.
1991: Indonesian troops open fire on mourners in Dili, killing up to 200 people. The massacre thrusts East Timor back under the international spotlight.
1992: Rebel leader Xanana Gusmao is arrested by Indonesian soldiers, later sentenced to 20 years in prison.
1996: The Nobel Peace Prize is jointly awarded to Dili's Roman Catholic Bishop Belo and exiled resistance leader Jose Ramos Horta.
1998: President Suharto is forced from power amid a crippling economic crisis and mass protests against his 32-year rule. He is replaced by B.J. Habibie.
1999: January - Habibie abruptly changes policy and says Indonesia will allow East Timor to break away if East Timorese reject an autonomy within Indonesia.
Shortly afterwards, pro-Jakarta militias, backed by the Indonesian military, embark on a wave of terror in the territory that continues right up to the ballot.
February - Rebel leader Xanana Gusmao moved to house arrest from prison.
March - Indonesia and Portugal agree on a "direct ballot" in which the people of East Timor will decide between autonomy and independence.
April - Scores killed in attacks by Indonesia loyalists and troops. Gusmao orders resumption of the war against Indonesia and pro-Jakarta loyalist militias. He later tones down his remarks.
June - UN Security Council formally establishes a UN mission in East Timor, with police and military advisers to help organise the ballot.
July - More than 400,000 people register to vote.