On July 16, 1979 Saddam Hussein came to power in Iraq by declaring himself President of the Republic, Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces and Country Secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Party to be the holder of the highest political position in Iraq, where al-Bakr was forced to Resignation as a result of pressure from Saddam Hussein, The official reason for al-Bakr's resignation was the inability to perform presidential duties for health reasons, and all his positions were handed over to Saddam Hussein.