July 12 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels aim to cripple the island's economy with major attacks on military and economic targets, a top rebel leader told Reuters on Thursday.

S.P. Thamilselvan, leader of the rebels' political wing, said peace was "not possible" while President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power, pouring cold water on international community hopes of halting a deadly new chapter in the two-decade civil war.

Following is a chronology of key incidents in that conflict, which has killed nearly 70,000 people since it erupted in 1983.

1948 - Island of Ceylon gains independence from Britain; country is later renamed Sri Lanka.

1956 - Government makes majority Sinhala language the language of state. Minority Tamils say they feel marginalised.

1976 - As some Tamils take up arms against the state, militant Velupillai Prabhakaran forms the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

1983 - Tiger attack in north kills several soldiers, triggering vast anti-Tamil riots in capital, Colombo. Hundreds die, thousands flee. Start of what Tigers call "First Eelam War".

1987 - Having earlier armed Tigers, India sends troops to enforce truce. Tigers renege on pact, refuse to disarm and begin three years of fighting that kills 1,000 Indian soldiers.

1990 - India withdraws, leaving LTTE in control of northern city of Jaffna. Tigers over-run police stations in east. "Second Eelam War" begins.

1991 - Suspected Tiger suicide bomber kills former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in south India.

1993 - President Ranasinghe Premadasa is killed by suicide bomber at May Day rally.

1995 - Then-President Chandrika Kumaratunga agrees truce with rebels. "Eelam War 3" begins when rebels sink naval craft. Tigers lose Jaffna to government forces.

1995-2001 - War rages across north and east. Suicide attack on Central Bank in Colombo kills around 100. Kumaratunga is wounded in another attack as bombs become frequent.

2001 - Tiger attack on main international airport destroys half of Sri Lankan Airlines fleet. Economic growth ceases. Sept 11, 2001 attacks raise Tiger worries of U.S. action against them.

2002 - After Norwegian mediation, two sides sign ceasefire.

2003 - Tigers pull out of talks, ceasefire holds.

2004 - Eastern Tiger commander Karuna Amman breaks with LTTE. Tiger offensive regains control of east. Tigers say Karuna has government backing. Dec. 26 tsunami slams into north and east coast.

2005 - Courts block post-tsunami aid-sharing deal with Tigers. Suspected Tiger assassin kills foreign minister. Rebel election boycott helps perceived hardline anti-Tiger politician Mahinda Rajapaksa win presidency. Attacks on military rise.

2006 - After string of attacks in January, two sides meet in Geneva in February where they renew commitment to 2002 truce and agree to talk again. By April, naval battles, air strikes and bomb blasts become more common and many fear they are seeing start of "Eelam War 4".

July 2006 - Heavy ground fighting starts after dispute over rebel-held water supply in the east, which spills over into northern Jaffna peninsula. Two sides meet again in Geneva on Oct. 28-29 but talks fail. Artillery battles follow in Jaffna.

Jan. 2007 - Government troops capture key Tiger eastern stronghold of Vakarai, rebels' last remaining stretch of coast in east and vital supply route. Tens of thousands of civilians are displaced and flee rebel-held territory to refugee camps.

March - Tigers launch their first confirmed air raid on military base next to island's only international airport, north of Colombo. Three airmen are killed and 16 wounded.

July 11 - Government declares it has driven rebels from their last jungle stronghold in east.

July 12 - Tiger political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan says peace is "not possible" with Rajapaksa in power.

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