20111221
Reuters
(Reuters) - Here is a timeline of events in Egypt since protests against former President Hosni Mubarak began.

January 25, 2011 - After the overthrow on January 14 of Tunisia's president in the first of the "Arab Spring" uprisings, anti-government protests begin across Egypt.

January 28 - Mubarak orders troops and tanks into cities to quell demonstrations. Thousands cheer at news of intervention of the army, which is widely seen as a neutral force in politics, unlike police who are regularly deployed to stifle dissent.

January 31 - Egypt swears in new government. New vice president, Omar Suleiman, hitherto intelligence chief, says Mubarak has asked him to start dialogue with all political forces.

February 1 - More than a million people around Egypt call for an end to Mubarak's rule.

February 4 - Thousands gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square to press again for an end to Mubarak's rule in a "Day of Departure."

February 10 - Mubarak says national dialogue under way, transfers powers to vice president, but he refuses to leave office immediately as protesters demand.

February 11 - Mubarak steps down and a military council is formed to run the country's affairs, Suleiman announces.

February 15 - Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of ruling military council, issues a decree ordering constitutional amendment committee to finish its work within 10 days.

February 22 - Tantawi swears in new cabinet and it finds itself under attack from Muslim Brotherhood and others who want it purged of ministers appointed by Mubarak.

March 3 - Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq resigns and military asks former transport minister Essam Sharaf to form new government.

March 19 - Big majority of Egyptians approve amendments to the constitution in referendum. The amendments are designed to pave way for parliamentary and presidential elections.

March 23 - Egypt approves law easing curbs that choked political life under Mubarak.

April 8 - Thousands protest in Tahrir Square against delays in putting Mubarak on trial.

August 3 - Mubarak, wheeled into a courtroom cage on a bed to face trial, denies the charges against him. His two sons, Gamal and Alaa, also deny the charges.

October 9/10 - Coptic Christians turn their fury against the army after at least 25 Christians killed when troops broke up a protest. Tension between Muslims and minority Christians is not new but has heightened since the anti-Mubarak revolt.

October 15 - The ruling military council bans discrimination on the basis of race, gender or religion in a new decree.

Nov 18. - Thousands of people, frustrated with military rule, protest in Tahrir Square and in other cities.

November 21 - Cabinet tenders resignation.

November 22 - Tantawi promises that a civilian president will be elected in June 2012, six months sooner than the army had planned. Tantawi confirms parliamentary elections will begin on November 28 as planned.

November 25 - Tens of thousands of Egyptians demanding an end to military rule pack Tahrir square in the biggest turnout of a week of protests and violence that has killed 42 people.

-- Kamal Ganzouri is named by the ruling army council to head a national salvation cabinet. He had served as prime minister under Mubarak from 1996 to 1999.

November 27 - Protesters again rally in Cairo to try to evict Egypt's ruling generals.

November 28 - First voting in elections for the lower house.

December 7 - The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) wins 34 individual seats of the 45 it contested in the first run-off vote of the election.

December 14-15 - Polls open in the second round of elections for the lower house, starting in nine other provinces.

-- The Muslim Brotherhood's FJP later say they have received about 40 percent of votes cast for party lists in the second round of voting. The strict Salafi al-Nour Party said its list received about 35 percent.

December 16 - At least three killed and more than 250 wounded in Cairo as troops fight demonstrators in worst violence since Egypt began the election process.

December 20 - Soldiers and police try for a fifth day to clear Tahrir square of opponents of army rule.

-- Medical sources say 13 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in the violence that began on December 16 in Tahrir and nearby streets leading to parliament and the cabinet office. The army says 164 people have been detained.