A timeline on the revolt in Libya since the first protests against the rule of Muammar Gadafy began in February
February 15th/16th, 2011 - A riot in Benghazi is triggered by the arrest of human rights activist Fethi Tarbel, who has worked to free political prisoners, Quryna newspaper reports.
February 17th - Activists designate a day of rage. It is the anniversary of 2006 clashes in Benghazi when security forces killed protesters attacking the consulate of former colonial power, Italy.
February 24th - Anti-Libyan government militias take control of Misrata after evicting forces loyal to Col Gadafy.
February 26th - The UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Col Gadafy and his family, and refers Libya's crackdown on rebels to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
February 28th - EU governments approve a package of sanctions against Col Gadafy and his closest advisers including an arms embargo and bans on travel to the bloc.
March 5th - The National Council meets in Benghazi and declares itself sole representative for Libya.
March 10th - France recognises the Libyan National Council as the legitimate representative of Libya's people. Libya suspends diplomatic relations with France the next day.
March 16th - Forces loyal to Col Gadafy are near rebel-held Benghazi. Col Gadafy's son Saif al-Islam tells France-based TV channel Euronews: "Everything will be over in 48 hours."
March 17th - The UN Security Council votes to authorise a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary measures" - code for military action - to protect civilians against Col Gadafy's army.
March 19th - The first air strikes halt the advance of Col Gadafy's forces on Benghazi and target Libya's air defences.
March 28th - Qatar becomes the first Arab country to recognise the Libya's rebels as the people's legitimate representative.
March 29th - A London conference of 40 governments and organisations agrees to set up a contact group comprising 20 countries to coordinate efforts in a post-Gadafy Libya.
March 30th - Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa defects and flies to Britain.
April 10th - Col Gadafy accepts a roadmap for ending the conflict, South African president Jacob Zuma says after leading a delegation of four African leaders at talks in Tripoli. Rebels reject the plan the next day.
April 30th - A Nato missile attack on a house in Tripoli kills Col Gadafy's youngest son and three grandchildren.
May 30th - In his first appearance in a month, Col Gadafy renews a ceasefire call in talks with visiting South African president Zuma but gives no sign he will heed demands to step down.
June 1st - Libya's top oil official Shokri Ghanem appears in Rome, saying he defected after the relentless bloodshed.
June 8th - Western and Arab nations meet rebels in Abu Dhabi discussing what US officials call the "end-game" for Col Gadafy.
June 15th - Libya approves a $31.4 billion budget for the rest of 2011, to show it is functioning as normal.
June 27th - The ICC issues arrest warrants for Col Gadafy, his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, charged with crimes against humanity.
July 15th - Libya's rebel Transitional National Council (NTC) wins recognition as the legitimate government of Libya from the US at a meeting in Turkey of the contact group on Libya.
July 16th - A rare meeting between US diplomats and Col Gadafy envoys is held "to deliver a clear and firm message that the only way to move forward, is for Gadafy to step down".
July 26th - UN envoy Abdul Elah al-Khatib says after talks with Libya's prime minister, the government and the rebels remain far apart in efforts to end the crisis.
July 27th - Rebels win diplomatic recognition from Britain which also expels the remaining Col Gadafy diplomats from London.
July 28th - Abdel Fattah Younes, Col Gadafy's former interior minister who defected to the rebels on February 22nd and became their military chief, is killed.
July 30th – Nato says it has bombed satellite dishes in Tripoli to stop "terror broadcasts" by Col Gadafy, but state TV remains on air.
August 9th - Col Gadafy's government accuses Nato of killing 85 civilians, in an air strike near Zlitan, west of Misrata.
August 11th - Libyan rebels say they have captured part of the oil town of Brega - Col Gadafy's forces still hold western parts of the town where the oil facilities are located.
August 14th - Libyan rebels take the centre of Zawiyah, near Tripoli, cutting the coastal highway to Tunisia which keeps the capital supplied with food and fuel. Col Gadafy troops still hold its oil refinery, the regime's last fuel supply. Gadafy forces fire a scud missile from near Sirte. There are no casualties.
August 15th - In a barely audible telephone call to state television, Col Gadafy calls on his followers to liberate Libya from rebels and Nato. "Get ready for the fight.. The blood of martyrs is fuel for the battlefield," he says. Rebels say they have captured Garyan, which controls the highway leading south from Tripoli and linking it to Sabha, a Col Gadafy stronghold deep in the desert.
August 16th - Libya's rebels say they have completed moves to cut off roads to the capital after rapid advances in the west.
August 19th - Rebels fight battles in two coastal cities near Tripoli in a drive to topple Col Gadafy, but meet stiff resistance.
August 20th - Explosions and gunfire rattle Tripoli after days of battlefield defeats left Col Gadafy's government and troops penned ever more tightly in the besieged capital.
August 21st - Rebel fighters enter Tripoli with little sign of resistance, despite a call by Col Gadafy for citizens to take up arms and save his 41-year-old regime from annihilation.
August 22nd – Fighting rages outside Col Gadafy compound in Tripoli as government troops still control roughly 15 to 20 per cent of the city
Reuters