Arab Spring/Timelines

December
19. Tunisia. Riots in a small Tunisian town after Mohamed Bouazizi set fire to himself in protest

24. Police shoot dead a young protester in Bouziane, south of Tunis

27. Mass rioting in Tunis

January
5. Algeria. Food price riots in Algerian cities

14. Jordan. Peaceful protests in Amman.

15. Tunisia. President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali takes refuge in Saudi Arabia

16. Egypt. Egyptian protester sets himself on fire

22. Jordan. Protests about economic policy - calls for the government to resign.

23. Yemen. Yemen protester arrested

24. Lebanon. Lebanon's "Day of Rage"

27. Egypt. Protests escalate in Cairo, Suez and other cities

31. Jordan. The King dismisses the Cabinet and appoints a new Prime Minister

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February
 2. Yemen. Protests. President Saleh promises to step down in 2013

 11. Egypt. President Hosni Mubarak resigns

 14. Bahrain

 15. Libya. 84 killed in growing unrest

 20. Morocco. In response to a “February 20 Movement for Change” that began on Facebook, more than 10,000 people turned out in cities across the country to call for democratic change, lower food prices, freedom for Islamist prisoners, rights for Berbers and a variety of causes, including pan-Arab nationalism.

 22. Bahrain. Thousands join anti-government rally.

 23. Libya . Benghazi is in the hands of the rebels

 26.. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 imposes an embargo on the supply of arms to Libya and targeted sanctions on key regime figures.oo

 26. Oman.

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March
 8 Libya. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference condemns the repression, violence and intimidation used by the government of Libya, describing it as a humanitarian tragedy which contravenes Islamic values, human rights and international humanitarian law.

 12 Libya The The Arab League agrees to ask the UN  Security Council to impose a no-fly-zone in Libya

 15. Syria. Protests in Damascus and Aleppo calling for democratic reforms and the release of all political prisoners.

 17. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorises member nations to "to take all necessary measures to protect civilians under threat of attack in the country, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory".

 19. Libya. Air defence targets attacked from the air by US, UK and French forces.

 20. Egypt. Egypt votes to adopt constitutional changes including early election.

 21. Yemen. Top Yemeni general, Ali Mohsen, backs opposition

 23. Libya. US Rear Admiral Gerard Hueber, chief of staff of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, reports that air strikes appear to have destroyed the country's air force.

 29. Libya. London Conference on Libya agrees to set up a Contact Group on Libya "to provide leadership and overall political direction to the international effort in close coordination with the UN, AU, Arab League, OIC, and EU"

 30. Egypt The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces announces a provisional constitution, including  the conduct of parliamentary elections.

 31. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) assumes sole command of  of international air operations over Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 (Operation Unified Protector).

April
1. Libya. US Department of Defense announces that the US is ending its air combat role in Libya

11 Yemen. Yemen's opposition rejects a Gulf Cooperation Council initiative for President Saleh to step down because it appears to offer him immunity from prosecution. President Saleh  welcomes the plan.

13. Libya. First meeting of the Contact Group on Libya calls for a political process which allows Libyans to choose their own future and agrees upon the need for humanitarian assistance and longer term support for the Libyan people.

15. Algeria. President Bouteflika promises to amend the constitution to 'strengthen democracy'

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May
5. Libya. Second meeting of the Contact Group on Libya

27. G8 leaders launch the Deauville Partnership and offer to support Arab Spring transitions by pledging $20bn in loans and aid to Middle East countries

June
7. Tunisia. Election postponed until 23 October.

6. Libya. Third Meeting of the International Contact Group on Libya

27. Libya. France confirms that it has supplied small arms to the Libyan rebels.

29. Egypt. Cairo street clashes leave more than 1,000 injured

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July
15. Libya, USA formally recognises Libya’s the National Transitional Council, Libya's main opposition group, as the country’s legitimate government.
 * Fourth meeting of the Libya Contact Group agrees to deal with the Libyan National Transitional Council as the "legitimate governing authority in Libya"

28. Libya, UK government recognises the National Transitional Council as Libya's "sole governmental authority."
 * The chief of staff of the rebel military forces, General Abdel Fattah Younis, is killed by gunmen.

31. Syria. Syrian army tanks storm the rebel-held city of Hama after besieging it for nearly a month.

August
12. Libya, The National Transition Council issues a "Draft Constitutional Charter for the Transition Stage (full text)

13. Libya. Rebel forces reach Zawiyah, 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli on the coast, enabling them to halt food and fuel supplies from Tunisia to Gaddafi's stronghold in the capital.

21 Libya. Rebel forces enter Tripoli

24 Libya. Fall of Tripoli

25. Libya. Fifth meeting of the Libya Contact Group

26. Libya. The National Transition Council moves to Tripoli and prepares to take over the government of Libya

30. Libya. Gadhafi family members take refuge in Algeria

30. Yemen. President agrees to hold presidential election.

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September
 1. Libya. "Friends of Libya" conference National Transitional Council's Mustafa Abdel Jalil promises a new constitution and elections within 18 months.
 * Russia recognises Libya's National Transition Council

 6. Libya. Large convoy arrives in Niger from Libya.

 11 Libya. All of Libya is held by National Transitional Council supporters, except for the towms of Bani Wald, Sirte, Jufra, and Subha (see map).

 13 Libya. China recognises Libya's National Transitional Council

 15. Syria. Syrian National Council of about 140 people is formed to present a united front against the Assad government following talks in Istanbul

 19 Yemen. Protesters seize military base

 20 Deauville Partnership. Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué

 22 Yemen. President Saleh returns after 3 month absence, and calls for a truce

 25 Saudi Arabia. King Abdulla announces that Saudi women are to have the right to join the advisory Shura Council (consultative assembly) as full members, and vote in future municipal elections.

27 Egypt. Polls are to be held in three stages between November 28 and January 10 with first session of new house scheduled for March 17.

29 Yemen. Heavy fighting in the capital

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October
09 Syria. Iraq offers support to Assad's Syria.

10 Egypt. Protestors against the destruction of a Coptic church are fired on by government forces : 24 die and over 300 are injured.

15 Syria. The government news agency announces the appointment of a committee to prepare a draft constitution.

20 Libya. The death of Gaddafi and the fall of Sirte

21 Yemen. The UN Security Council "Strongly condemns the continued human rights violations by the Yemeni authorities, such as the excessive use of force against peaceful protestors as well as the acts of violence, use of force, and human rights abuses perpetrated by other actors, and stresses that all those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses should be held accountable.".

23 Tunisia. The first free election in decades

23 Libya The civil war is formally declared  over.