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

February
 2. Yemen. Protests. President Saleh promises to step down in 2003

 11. Egypt. President Hosni Mubarak resigns

 14. Bahrain

 15. Libya. 84 killed in growing unrest

 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.

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 A meeting of the League of Arab States 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.

 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. Libya. Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa defects.

 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

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 Abdelaziz Bouteflika promises to amend the constitution to 'strengthen democracy'

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

27. G8 leaders support Arab spring goals 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

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
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