Mohamed Nasheed vs Saddam Hussein

Mohamed Nasheed won the Maldives' first multi-party presidential election, defeating long-serving President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. His victory marked a historic transition to democracy after 30 years of authoritarian rule, with Nasheed promising reforms and transparency.

Nasheed and his cabinet held a meeting underwater off the coast of the Maldives to highlight the threat of climate change and rising sea levels. The event drew global media attention and underscored the existential risk facing low-lying island nations.

After weeks of protests and a police mutiny, Nasheed resigned as president, claiming he was forced out in a coup. He was succeeded by Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan. The event sparked international concern and led to a period of political instability.

Nasheed was arrested under anti-terrorism laws for ordering the arrest of a judge during his presidency. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, a move widely condemned internationally as politically motivated. He was later granted asylum in the UK.

Saddam Hussein forced President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to resign on July 16, 1979, and assumed the presidency. He immediately purged the Ba'ath Party, executing 68 senior members in a televised purge. This consolidated his absolute control over Iraq's government and security apparatus.

Saddam launched a full-scale invasion of Iran on September 22, 1980, aiming to seize the oil-rich Khuzestan province and overthrow the new Islamic regime. The war lasted eight years, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties and massive economic destruction for both countries, ending in a stalemate.

During the Anfal campaign, Iraqi forces under Saddam's orders attacked the Kurdish town of Halabja with mustard gas and nerve agents on March 16, 1988. An estimated 5,000 civilians were killed instantly. The attack is considered one of the worst chemical weapons attacks against a civilian population.

Saddam ordered the invasion and annexation of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, claiming it was historically part of Iraq. The invasion was condemned internationally and led to the Gulf War. A US-led coalition expelled Iraqi forces in February 1991, and Iraq faced severe UN sanctions.

After the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Saddam went into hiding. He was captured by US forces on December 13, 2003, near Tikrit. Tried by the Iraqi Special Tribunal for crimes against humanity, he was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on December 30, 2006.