Lebanon: Recent Chronology of Events

[RYP]

CHRONOLOGY-Events in Lebanon since Hariri's killing
12 Oct 2005 12:52:05 GMT
Source: Reuters
Oct 12 (Reuters) - Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan, said by Syria's state news agency to have committed suicide on Wednesday, long served as the top enforcer of his country's policies in Lebanon.
Kanaan was interviewed last month by a U.N. team probing the Feb. 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Chief U.N. investigator Detlev Mehlis is expected to submit his report to Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Oct. 21.
Here is a chronology of events in Lebanon since Hariri's death.
Feb. 14, 2005 - Hariri is killed by truck bomb in Beirut.
Feb. 16 - At least 150,000 Lebanese turn Hariri's funeral into outpouring of anger against Syria.
Feb. 28 - Pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami resigns.
March 5 - President Bashar al-Assad tells Syrian parliament that his troops will start phased pullout from Lebanon.
March 8 - Lebanese flood central Beirut for pro-Syrian rally organised by Hizbollah guerrilla group. Syrian troops begin redeploying.
March 10 - Karami reappointed to form government.
March 14 - Anti-Syrian protesters stage biggest demonstration since Hariri's killing.
March 19 - Bomb in Christian suburb of Beirut wounds 11.
March 23 - Bomb kills three people in Christian town of Kaslik north of Beirut.
April 7 - U.N. Security Council orders international investigation into Hariri's assassination.
April 13 - Karami resigns after failing to form cabinet.
April 15 - President Emile Lahoud appoints moderate Syrian ally Najib Mikati as prime minister.
April 19 - Mikati forms government.
April 25 - Pro-Syrian Lebanese security chief Jamil al-Sayyed resigns.
April 26 - Last Syrian soldiers leave Lebanon.
May 7 - Michel Aoun, Maronite Christian and staunch foe of Syria, returns to hero's welcome after 14 years of exile.
June 2 - Samir Kassir, journalist opposed to Syria's role in Lebanon, is killed in Beirut by bomb in his car.
June 19 - Lebanese parliamentary elections end after four rounds of voting. Anti-Syrian alliance led by Hariri's son Saad al-Hariri wins 72 of 128 assembly seats. Mikati steps down.
June 21 - Former Communist Party leader and critic of Syria George Hawi is killed by bomb in his car in Beirut.
June 30 - Lahoud designates Fouad Siniora as prime minister after he is nominated by anti-Syrian legislators.
July 12 - Car bomb wounds caretaker Defence Minister Elias al-Murr and kills two people in Christian area north of Beirut. Aug 30 - Four pro-Syrian former security chiefs are detained as suspects in Hariri's killing and charged with murder two days later.
Sept 12 - Syria agrees to let U.N. investigator Mehlis question Syrian witnesses.
Sept 20 - U.N. investigators go to Damascus to hear testimony from Syrian officers, including Kanaan.
Sept 25 - May Chidiac, a Christian television journalist critical of Syria, is seriously wounded by bomb in her car.
Oct 12 - Syrian news agency SANA announces that Kanaan has committed suicide in his office in Damascus.