2003 - 2005

2003, August - Car bomb in Beirut kills a member of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group. Hezbollah and a government minister blame Israel for the blast.

2004, September - UN Security Council adopts a resolution - aimed at Syria - demanding that foreign troops leave Lebanon. Syria dismisses the move. Parliament votes to extend President Lahoud's term by three years. Weeks of political deadlock end with the unexpected departure of Rafiq Hariri - who had at first opposed the extension - as prime minister.

2005, February - Former prime minister Rafik Hariri is killed in a massive car bomb attack in Beirut. The cabinet of Prime Minister Omar Karami resigns after two weeks of anti-Syrian rallies sparked by the assassination. There are growing calls for Syria to withdraw its troops.

2005, March - Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese rally in Beirut to show support for Syria. Days after his resignation, pro-Syrian former PM Omar Karami is asked by the president to form a new government.

2005, April - Omar Karami resigns as PM after failing to form a government. Moderate pro-Syrian MP Najib Mikati is named as his successor. Syria says it has withdrawn all of its military forces, as demanded by the UN.

2005, June - Prominent journalist Samir Qasir, a critic of Syrian influence in Lebanon, is killed by a car bomb. Anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri wins control of parliament following elections. New parliament chooses Hariri ally, Fouad Siniora, as prime minister. George Hawi, anti-Syrian former leader of Lebanese Communist Party, killed when his car is blown up.

2005, July - Lebanese PM Siniora meets Syria's President Assad; both sides agree to rebuild relations.

2005, September - Four pro-Syrian generals charged in connection with the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri.

2005, December 12 - Prominent anti-Syrian MP and journalist Gibran Tueni is killed by a car bomb.