Starting with Qaddafi condemning the Tunisian protests, I picked this date as a starting point to the Libyan Revolution because Qaddafi was desperate to do what he could to prevent protests from uprising in his own country. He knew it was only a matter of time given the context of the Arab Spring but desperate to hold onto his power, he promised to continue to lead and strike down any protestors. February was a an important month for Libya because it marked the first protest. As we get further along, more and more intervention takes place by outside forces ultimately leading to the death of Qaddafi and a free, democratic Libya.
Muammar Qaddafi condemns the protests in Tunisia. Qaddafi nervous that protests will begin in his country, does what he can to keep his people from hitting the streets
Protests begin in Benghazi due to arrest of human rights activist
Thousands of protestors hit the streets in Benghazi. Their demands are for jobs, opportunities and political freedoms - protestors were met with supporters of Libya's government who killed at least 15 protestors. Security forces shoot automatic weapons at protestors while Qaddafi does his best to ignore the protests
Dozens of protestors are killed by security forces in Libya. Media blacked out by Qaddafi regime
Qaddafi's son goes on TV to defend his fathers 41 year reign - the worst violence in the Arab uprisings displayed here as troops and mercenaries shoot unarmed demonstators in Benghazi - death toll passes 230.
Qaddafi's ambassadors and most of Libya's UN mission resign in protest at the regimes violent crackdown. Meanwhile two air force pilots flee Libya after being told to bomb peaceful protestors.
Qaddafi sets the stage for a final violent showdown where he promises to die in his country and never leave. He encourages his supporters to hit the streets and kill protestors who he claimed were on drugs and deserved the death penalty. He encouraged the death of his enemies which included the US to al-Qaida in spite of the already estimated 300 people who have already been killed. Qaddafi death squads in brand new cars without license plates shoot at groups of people, wherever they may gather.
The same city where Qaddafi launched himself to power, Benghazi has been overrun by rebels. Protestors who prior to this day would never dare approach the towns main military base without an invitation, were doing victory laps around it in their cars. Barracks have been torched and looted. Qaddafi's home has been sacked; there are no sign of loyalists anywhere.
Opposition groups continue to increase pressure on Qaddafi, mobilizing rebel groups in the western part of the country as the revolution rapidly spreads. Qaddafi blames the revolts on Osama bin Laden and said the protestors were fueled by hallucinogenic drugs which they ingested from Nescafe instant coffee. Benghazi is now being ran by a makeshift committee of judges, lawyers and other professionals who have sent out young people to direct traffic and restore order. Oil exports have been shut down, preventing the export of over 80,000 barrels a day. One rebel said "The order was put out to send a message to Qaddafi to stop the slaying of our people in Benghazi. We made the decision to deny him the privilege of exporting oil and gas to Europe."
China and Russia join the west in backing up calls to prosecute Qaddafi for war crimes. Britain said it was revoking the diplomatic immunity of the Libyan leader and his family. "There is no future for Libya that includes him," the PM of Britain said. Hilary Clinton said the US was reaching out the Libyan opposition and was not negotiating with Qaddafi. Italian PM said, "We have reached a point of no return." Previous relationships with Libya as a former colonial power and major investor, suspended its treaty of friendship and co-operation. The 15-0 UN vote to refer Qaddafi to the international criminal court was the first of its kind.
Rebels rejoice are ecstatic as they seize control of Zawiyah, a town 30 miles from Tripoli.
Obama urges Qaddafi to step down on grounds that he has "lost his legitimacy to lead Libya" after violent responses to protests. An international criminal court announced that Qaddafi and his sons are to be investigated for possible crimes against humanity.
UK PM David Cameron and Obama prepare a and detail a course of action if Qaddafi continues to brutalize his own people. Responses were said to include surveillance, humanitarian assistance, enforcement of the arms embargo and a no fly zone. Two US marine assault ships, both with Harrier jump-jets aboard, are fast approaching the Libyan coast.
Qaddafi warned that the imposition of a no fly zone in Libyan airspace will be met with armed resistance and solid proof that western powers are trying to steal his country's oil. At this point in time, it is estimated that 1,000 people have been killed since the uprising began in mid-Feb. Meanwhile Qaddafi (10 Mar) says that the time for liberation and action is now as his forces take back the town of Zawiyah, 30 miles from Tripoli.
Nicolas Sarkozy, Frances President calls for targeted air strikes against Qaddafi's regime if his forces use chemical weapons or launch air strikes against civilians.
After the UN security council approved air strike and a no-fly zone, British and French military aircraft unleash a ferocious series of air and missile strikes against Qaddafi's regime as Operation Odyssey Dawn is underway. The assault on an Arab regime is the largest since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Over 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles had also been fired from US and British ships and submarines in the Mediterranean. A UN national security officer later said that Qaddafi's air defenses had been severely disabled.
Rebel forces take Sirte days after taking Ajdabiya with the help of western air strikes. Rebel forces easily seize several towns without resistance while colapsing the morale of Qaddafi loyalists.
Qaddafi's regime has "lost all legitimacy" said Arab and western ministers meeting in Qatar as they call for Qaddafi to step down. Britain agrees to provide non-lethal body armour to the rebels
Obama reverses America's cautious approach to the conflict - in which the US gave control to NATO and withdrew fighter planes just days after the conflict began. "Britain, France and the US will not rest until the UN security council resolutions have been implemented and the Libyan people can choose their own future."
Obama approves the use of missile-armed Predator drones to help Nato to target Qaddafi's forces in Libya. Coalition commanders have privately urged the US to provide the specialist aircraft.
For the first time, British Apache helicopters attack Qaddafi's troops, destroying radar stations and military checkpoints. This new air operation is expected to strongly boost the morale of the rebels, who are under equipped
France admits to providing weapons to rebel fighters in a defiant move against the UN mandate. UN resolution 1973 allows NATO nations to protect civilians in Libya abut stops short of providing weapons. French planes dropped machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles to rebels strongly boosting their ability to fight Qaddafi's forces.
Libyan rebels won broad political recognition as the country's "legitimate authority" with the promise of huge financial support and a British commitment to intensify NATO bombing. US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, insisted that the regime's violence must end. "Increasingly the people of Libya are looking past Qaddafi," she said.
The US and Libya held their first face to face talks since the conflict in Libya began. The two sides disagreed about what was discussed - US wants Qaddafi to step down, Qaddafi of course doesn't want to.
Libyan rebels begin to transfer government to Tripoli while fighting and the hunt for Qaddafi goes on.
The leader of Libya's transitional government used his first speech to call for unity and moderation as he soothed fears of factional splits among the country's new rulers.
PM of Libya confirms that Qaddafi has been killed after his home town of Sirte was overrun by fighters. "Today, Libya's future begins..the Libyan people are looking forward to a very promising future where they can start building the free democratic state for which they have fought for about 8 months now.
Hundreds of uniformed men described as members of a new Libyan army have been deployed for the first time, to settle a bloody feud between rival militias. The most killings since the capture and killing of Qaddafi, a month prior raised questions about the ability of Libya's interim leaders to restore order after eight months of civil war.
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