CHRONOLOGY-Events in Lebanon since Hariri’s killing

Reuters) – Eleven people were killed in two bomb blasts near the Christian mountain town of Bikfaya, north of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday, security sources said.Here is a chronology of some of the main events in Lebanon since former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was slain, along with 22 other people, on February 14, 2005.

February 16 – At least 150,000 Lebanese turn Hariri’s funeral into outpouring of anger against Syria.

February 28 – Pro-Syrian Prime Minister Omar Karami resigns.

March 5 – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad tells his parliament Syrian troops will start phased pullout from Lebanon.

April 26 – Last Syrian soldiers leave Lebanon.

June 2 – Samir Kassir, journalist opposed to Syria’s role in Lebanon, is killed in Beirut by bomb in his car.

June 16 – U.N. investigation into Hariri’s killing starts.

June 19 – Lebanese parliamentary elections end in victory for anti-Syrian alliance led by Hariri’s son Saad al-Hariri.

June 21 – Former Communist Party leader and critic of Syria George Hawi is killed in Beirut by bomb in his car.

October 20 – U.N. investigators say high-ranking Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies were involved in Hariri’s killing, in report to U.N. Security Council. Syria denies it.

December 12 – Gebran Tueni, anti-Syrian member of parliament and Lebanese newspaper magnate, is killed by car bomb near Beirut.

July 12 – Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers in cross-border raid, setting off 34-day war in which about 1,200 people in Lebanon and 158 Israelis were killed.

November 11 – Five pro-Syrian Shi’ite Muslim ministers from Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal movement, resign after collapse of all-party talks on giving their camp more say in government.

November 21 – Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel is killed by gunmen in Christian neighborhood of Beirut. U.N. Security Council approves plans for tribunal to try suspects in assassination of Hariri and subsequent attacks.

December 1 – Hezbollah, Amal and supporters of Christian leader Michel Aoun camp outside Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s office in central Beirut in open-ended campaign to topple government. 

January 23, 2007 – Opposition protests paralyze much of Lebanon and spark unrest. Four people are killed and 176 wounded.

January 25 – Aid conference in Paris pledges more than $7.6 billion in grants and soft loans to help with debt mountain and recover from war. Five people are killed and 400 wounded in street clashes between pro- and anti-government factions.

Feb 7 – Lebanese troops and Israeli army patrol exchange fire in first such incident since Lebanon deployed army in south after Israel’s war with Hezbollah. There are no casualties.

February 13 – Eleven people are killed and 20 wounded in two bomb blasts that wrecked minibuses near Christian town of Bikfaya, 24 km (15 miles) northeast of Beirut.