Arab Spring/Timelines

2010

December

19. Tunisia. Riots in a small Tunisian town after Mohamed Bouazizi set fire to himself in protest[1]

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

27. Mass rioting in Tunis[2]

2011

January

5. Algeria. Food price riots in Algerian cities[3]

14. Jordan. Peaceful protests in Amman.

15. Tunisia. President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali takes refuge in Saudi Arabia[4]

16. Egypt. Egyptian protester sets himself on fire[5]

22. Jordan. Protests about economic policy - calls for the government to resign[6].

23. Yemen. Yemen protester arrested[7]

24. Lebanon. Lebanon's "Day of Rage"[8]

27. Egypt. Protests escalate in Cairo, Suez and other cities[9]

31. Jordan. The King dismisses the Cabinet and appoints a new Prime Minister[10]

February

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

11. Egypt. President Hosni Mubarak resigns[11]

14. Bahrain

15. Libya. 84 killed in growing unrest[12]

22. Bahrain. Thousands join anti-government rally[13].

23. Libya . Benghazi is in the hands of the rebels[14]

26.. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 imposes an embargo on the supply of arms to Libya and targeted sanctions on key regime figures[15].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[16]

15. Syria. Protests in Damascus and Aleppo calling for democratic reforms and the release of all political prisoners[17].

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"[18].

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

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

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[21].

29. Libya. London Conference on Libya[22] 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" [23]

30. Libya. Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa defects[24].

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)[25].

April

1. Libya. US Department of Defense announces that the US is ending its air combat role in Libya [26]

13. Libya. First meeting of the Contact Group on Libya[27] 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[28]

27. G8 leaders support Arab spring goals by pledging $20bn in loans and aid to Middle East countries[29]

June

7. Tunisia. Election postponed until 23 October[30].

6. Libya. Third Meeting of the International Contact Group on Libya[31]

27. Libya. France confirms that it has supplied small arms to the Libyan rebels[32].

29. Egypt. Cairo street clashes leave more than 1,000 injured[33]

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[34] 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[35].

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[36].

21 Libya. Rebel forces enter Tripoli [37]

24 Libya. Fall of Tripoli

25. Libya. Fifth meeting of the Libya Contact Group[38] [39]

26. Libya. The National Transition Council moves to Tripoli and prepares to take over the government of Libya[40]

30. Libya. Gadhafi family members take refuge in Algeria[41]

30. Yemen. President agrees to hold presidential election[42].

September

1. Libya. "Friends of Libya" conference[43] National Transitional Council's Mustafa Abdel Jalil promises a new constitution and elections within 18 months.

Russia recognises the National Transition Council[44]

6. Libya. Large convoy arrives in Niger from Libya[45].

10. Syria. The Arab League agrees with President Bashar Assad a series of measures to end months of bloodshed in Syria to be presented to an Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo[46].

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[47]).

13 Libya. China recognises the National Transitional Council[48]

19 Yemen. Protesters seize military base[49]

22 Yemen. President Saleh returns after 3 month absence, and calls for a truce[50]