April 16 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo said on Monday "the war is over" between his government and northern rebels, as the two sides moved to dismantle a military buffer zone and reunite the war-divided country.

Following are some key events since the war began.

Sept. 19, 2002 - Dissident soldiers attack main city of Abidjan to try to overthrow President Laurent Gbagbo. Attempt fails but rebels seize north of country.

Jan. 25, 2003 - Seydou Diarra is appointed prime minister under a peace deal signed in France, after Gbagbo agrees to share power with rebels and political rivals.

May 3 - Rebels and army sign total ceasefire bringing an end to months of fighting in western regions. French and West African troops secure ceasefire line on May 24.

July 4 - Army and rebels declare war is over, with country split between rebel-held north and government-controlled south.

March 27, 2004 - Rebels and opposition RDR party pull out of government after crackdown on banned anti-Gbagbo march in which subsequent U.N. report says at least 120 people are killed.

July 30 - Warring parties sign a deal after talks in Ghana, setting out a timetable for reform and rebel disarmament.

Nov. 4-6 - Government planes bomb rebel stronghold of Bouake in bid to retake the north. Nine French peacekeepers are killed. In response France destroys large part of Ivory Coast government airforce. This is followed by anti-French riots in Abidjan.

April 6, 2005 - Rebels and Gbagbo finally agree at peace talks in Pretoria to end the war.

June 2 - At least 100 people are killed in revenge attacks and a massacre around the western town of Duekoue.

Oct. 30 - Scheduled presidential polls are postponed. A U.N. resolution allows Gbagbo to remain in power another year, while a new prime minister is appointed.

Dec. 4 - Charles Konan Banny, governor of West Africa's central bank, is named interim prime minister in a move brokered by African Union mediators.

Dec. 16 - Constitutional authorities allow the parliament to continue working until elections, after its mandate expired.

Jan. 15, 2006 - Foreign mediators recommend parliament should not be reconvened. Gbagbo's supporters say the international group has no right to make such a recommendation. Gbagbo supporters stage four days of anti-U.N. protests in Abidjan and other cities. Eleven people are killed.

Nov. 1 - U.N. Security Council votes unanimously to shift power from the president to the prime minister. It extends transitional government for a second year, until Oct. 31, 2007.

March 4, 2007 - Gbagbo and Soro sign a peace deal calling for departure of U.N. and French troops and creation of a new transitional government.

March 26 - The government and rebels agree on Soro as prime minister under a plan to reunite the country.

April 7 - Gbagbo names a new government led by Soro.

April 16 - U.N. and French peacekeepers begin a staged pullback from the military buffer zone and be gradually replaced by mixed brigades of government and rebel soldiers gradually reuniting the war-divided country.

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