CAIRO: Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary since the beginning of 18 days of protests that ousted the previous regime of Hosni Mubarak. Since that day, Egypt remains struggling to see the revolution succeed. Here is a timeline of important events throughout the past 365 days: January 25 – Thousands take part in a “Day of Rage” protest, calling for Mubarak to relinquish power after 30 years in office. The demonstration was inspired by the Tunisian uprising. Police respond with water canon and tear gas. January 26 – Access to social networking websites Twitter and Facebook – which were widely used to organize the protests – is severely restricted. January 27 – Pro-democracy campaigner Mohammed ElBaradei arrives in Cairo from his home in Vienna. The Nobel Peace Prize winner says the “regime needs to understand that change is absolutely needed.” Stock market suspends trading. January 28 – Mubarak imposes a curfew and tasks the army with enforcing it. January 29 – Mubarak sacks his cabinet, but refuses to leave. Police vehicles are torched as the headquarters of Mubarak's National Democratic Party in Cairo is set ablaze. Mubarak appoints intelligence chief Omar Suleiman vice president and former civil aviation minister Ahmed Shafiq prime minister. January 31 – Mubarak swears in a new cabinet – of old faces, with many members of his previous government retaining their posts. Protests increase. February 1 – Mubarak says he will not seek re-election when his current term in office expires in September, but defies demands for his immediate resignation. February 2 – Pitched street battles erupt between Mubarak's opponents and supporters in central Cairo's Tahrir Square. February 3 – In an exclusive interview to US broadcaster ABC News, Mubarak says he would like to resign, but warns of chaos if he does. February 4 – Demonstrators gather in central Cairo for another day of anti-Mubarak protests on what they call his “Day of Departure.” February 6 – Egyptian opposition groups hold first talks with the government. Many banks and businesses reopen. February 7 – Egyptian cabinet meets for the first time since its reshuffle, announcing it would raise public-sector salaries and pensions by 15 per cent. Google executive Wael Ghoneim – who was behind the Facebook page that called for the January 25 protest – is released after 12 days in prison. February 10 – A nation comes to a halt as it waits to hear if Mubarak will step down. But in a televised speech, Mubarak announces he will stay on and transfer some powers to his deputy, Omar Suleiman. February 11 – As protests intensify, Mubarak steps down as president. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, headed by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, takes over the country. February 14 – The military rulers dissolve parliament and suspend the constitution. It says it will remain in power for six months or until elections are held. March 3 – Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq resigns and the military tasks former transport minister Essam Sharaf with forming an interim government. March 9 – The army forcibly clears protesters from Tahrir Square. Over a dozen female protesters, detained during the rally by the military, are beaten up and forced to undergo virginity tests. March 19 – Over 70 percent of Egyptians vote for constitutional reforms in a referendum. April 16 – The Supreme Administrative Court disbands Mubarak's National Democratic Party, which had spent more than four decades in power. August 3 – Mubarak makes his first public appearance since stepping down to face trial on charges of ordering the killing of at least 846 protesters and corruption. His sons, Alaa and Gamal, and former interior minister, Habib al-Adli, are tried alongside him. All plead not guilty. September 10 – The military rulers prolong the enforcement of the Emergency Law until June, following an attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo. October 9 – Twenty-seven people are killed and more than 300 injured when protesters, mainly Coptic Christians, clash with the army in central Cairo. October 30 – Mubarak's trial is adjourned to December 28, pending a decision on a lawsuit requesting the court panel be replaced over alleged bias. November 19 – Violent clashes between police and protesters erupt on Tahrir Square after security forces clamp down on activists camping in the square. November 21 – The government resigns under public pressure over a deadly police crackdown on protesters in central Cairo. November 22 – A mass protest is held in Tahrir Square despite assurances from the military rulers that it will expedite power transfer to an elected civilian administration in June. November 26 – Clashes end. At least 70 people are killed, medical sources tell Bikyamasr.com November 28 – Voters turn out in huge numbers for what is described as Egypt's first free parliamentary elections ever. Islamists make massive gains in the three-stage polls. December 7 – A new interim government led by Kamal al-Ganzouri,a former premier under Mubarak, is sworn in. December 16 – Egypt military attack peaceful sit-in at the Cabinet. Clashes ensue for days, leaving at least 17 people killed and hundreds wounded. January 23 – Egyptian parliament holds its first session, and senior member of the influential Muslim Brotherhood, Saad al-Katatni is elected parliament speaker. January 24 – The military junta chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi announces plans to lift Egypt's 30-year-old state of emergency law, except for cases involving thuggery. BM and dpa ShortURL: http://goo.gl/VRgws Tags: featured, Jan25, SCAF, Tahrir, Timeline Section: Egypt, Latest News
