Ibrahim Rugova, 61. Kosovo president; epitomized its long struggle for independence from Serbia. Jan. 21.

Johannes Rau, 75. Former German president; promoted deeper ties with Israel. Jan. 27.

John Profumo, 91. Former British Cabinet minister at center of huge 1963 scandal. March 9.

Slobodan Milosevic, 64. Former Yugoslav leader; accused of orchestrating conflict that killed 250,000 people. March 11.

Lennart Meri, 76. Former Estonian president; helped Baltic nation break from Soviet Union in 1991. March 14.

Romeo Lucas Garcia, 81. Former Guatemalan president; rule was marked by a bloody 1980 raid on protesters. May 27.

Charles Haughey, 80. Irish prime minister; career haunted by ethical questions. June 13.

Ryutaro Hashimoto, 68. Former Japanese prime minister who helped ease tensions over U.S. military bases in Japan. July 1.

Shamil Basayev, 41. Chechnya warlord, claimed responsibility for deadly Russian school siege. Announced July 10. Allegedly killed by Russian forces.

Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, 75. Queen of New Zealand's Maori population. Aug. 15.

Alfredo Stroessner, 93. Ruled Paraguay for decades with a blend of guile and force. Aug. 16.

Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, 88. Longtime king of the Pacific Islandnation of Tonga. Sept. 11.

Silviu Brucan, 90. A top communist official in postwar Romania,a strong opponent of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Sept. 14.

Valentin Paniagua, 69. Former interim president of Peru,shepherded his country back to democracy. Oct. 16.

P.W. Botha, 90. Apartheid-era South African president. Oct. 31.

Bulent Ecevit, 81. Former Turkish Prime Minister, a politicalforce for almost half a century. Nov. 5.

Pierre Gemayel, 34. A rising star in one of Lebanon's mostprominent political families. Nov. 21. Assassinated.

Gen. Augusto Pinochet, 91. Chilean leader who terrorized opponents; took power in bloody coup. Dec. 10.

Saddam Hussein, 59. Former Iraqi dictator found guilty of crimes against humanity. Dec. 30. Executed by hanging.