Key dates during 50 years of Cuban revolution

Key moments in Cuba's past 50 years:

Jan. 1, 1959 _ Fidel Castro's rebels take power as dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba.

June 1960 _ Cuba nationalizes U.S.-owned oil refineries after they refuse to process Soviet oil. Nearly all other U.S. businesses expropriated by October.

October 1960 _ Washington bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine.

Jan. 3, 1961 _ U.S. government breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba.

April 16, 1961 _ Castro declares Cuba socialist state.

April 17, 1961 _ CIA-backed Cuban exiles stage failed invasion at Bay of Pigs.

Feb, 7, 1962 _ Washington bans all Cuban imports.

October 1962 _ U.S. blockade forces removal of Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba. U.S. President John F. Kennedy agrees privately not to invade Cuba.

March 1968 _ Castro's government takes over almost all private businesses.

April 1980 _ Mariel boatlift: Cuba says anyone can leave; some 125,000 Cubans flee.

December 1991 _ Collapse of Soviet Union devastates Cuban economy.

August 1994 _ Castro declares he will not stop Cubans trying to leave; some 40,000 take to sea heading for United States.

March 18, 2003 _ 75 Cuban dissidents sentenced to prison.

July 31, 2006 _ Five days after his last public appearance, Castro announces he has had operation, temporarily cedes power to brother Raul.

Feb. 19, 2008 _ Castro resigns as president.

Feb. 24, 2008 _ Cuban parliament elects Raul Castro as president.