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Egypt Protests: Timeline

TIMELINE: Ten Months After Tahrir
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Protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square entered a fourth day on Tuesday, as thousands of demonstrators prepared to hold a "March of the Millions." Protesters in Tahrir are demanding the resignation of Egypt's military rulers, and in particular of field marshall Hussein Tantawi. "The people want the downfall of the field marshall," thousands shouted in unison over the past three days.

HuffPost looks back at the events leading up to this week's protests, starting in February, when hundreds of thousands of Egyptians gathered in the Egyptian capital's Tahrir Square to demand the ouster of then-President Hosni Mubarak.

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Before You Go

Egypt Timeline
January 17, 2011(01 of33)
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A general view shows a deserted street in front of Egypt's parliament building in downtown Cairo where a man set himself alight on January 17, 2011, in an apparent copycat replay of the self-immolation of a Tunisian graduate which sparked a popular revolt, the official MENA agency said. (Getty)
One month after Tunisian fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire, Egyptian Ahmed Hashem el-Sayed followed suit in Alexandria. (credit:Getty)
January 25, 2011(02 of33)
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An Egyptian anti-government demonstrator holds a national flag bearing the writing in Arabic, 'A salute to the makers of the Egyptian revolution and its martyrs' as they gather in Alexandria on February 6, 2011, on the 13th day of protests calling for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. (Getty) On January 25, Cairo saw the first massive demonstrations demanding the resignation of then-president Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of people filled Tahrir Square calling for the president to leave his position. (credit:Getty)
January 29, 2011(03 of33)
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Egyptian strong-man and chief of intelligence Omar Suleiman in March 2011. In response to massive protests demanding regime change, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was sworn in as vice president on January 29, 2011. It was the first time any Egyptian held such a post in Hosni Mubarak's three-decade-long rule. (Getty) (credit:Getty)
February 2, 2011(04 of33)
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Anti-government protester (foreground) parleys with supporters of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on an overpass near Tahrir Square on February 3, 2011, in Cairo, Egypt. (Getty)Mubarak loyalists and anti-government protesters clashed in Tahrir Square, turning peaceful protests into a battle. Hundreds were injured in the clashes. (credit:Getty)
February 4, 2011(05 of33)
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Egyptian anti-government protesters pray at Tahrir Square in Cairo on February 4, 2011. (Getty)
Despite Mubarak's efforts to meet protesters at what he deemed to be the middle ground, protests in Tahrir continued and culminated in 'day of departure' protests. Mubarak claimed that he would have liked to step down but feared chaos. (credit:Getty)
February 7, 2011(06 of33)
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Egyptian cyberactivist and executive at Google Wael Ghonim speaks with the press at Cairo's Tahrir square on February 8, 2011 following his release late on February 7. He claims to have been held blindfolded by the Egyptian security service for 12 days. (Getty) (credit:Getty)
February 11, 2011(07 of33)
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Egyptians celebrate for the second night in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the popular revolt that drove veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak from power, on February 12, 2011. Thousands of Egyptians were still singing and waving flags as dawn broke over a nation reborn, after a popular uprising toppled Mubarak. (Getty)
In an extremely short statement, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced to Egypt that Mubarak gave up the presidency and handed over power to the army. Massive celebrations took place across Cairo. (credit:Getty)
February 25, 2011(08 of33)
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Thousands of Egyptians wave their national flag after the Friday prayer in Cairo's Tahrir Square on February 25, 2011 to celebrate the success of their revolution and call for a new government of technocrats purged of old regime remnants. (Getty)
On February 25, a 'day of rage' rippled through the Middle East, with demonstrations held in Iraq and Yemen. (credit:Getty)
March 4, 2011(09 of33)
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New Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf addresses thousands of demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square during an uprising to demand political and economic change on March 4, 2011, a day after he was named to the post. (Getty)
"You are the ones to whom legitimacy belongs," Sharaf told the crowds at Tahrir after being sworn in as prime minister. (credit:Getty)
March 19, 2011(10 of33)
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Egyptian youth show their ink-stained fingers after voting at a polling station in Cairo on March 19, 2011 as Egyptians got their first taste of democracy in a referendum to a package of constitutional changes after president Hosni Mubarak was forced to relinquish his 30-year grip on power. (Getty)
A record number of voters turned up for the democratic referendum on constitutional changes. The reforms were approved with 77% of the votes. (credit:Getty)
April 13, 2011(11 of33)
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People hold an Egyptian flag as they stand outside Sharm el-Sheikh hospital where former president Hosni Mubarak was admitted after he reportedly suffered a heart attack during questioning by prosecutors, in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on April 13, 2011. Getty)
Mubarak and two of his sons were placed in detention during an investigation into corruption and abuse. Investigators looked into allegations of corruption, squandering of public funds and the abuse of authority. Mubarak reportedly suffered a heart attack while being interrogated. (credit:Getty)
May 8, 2011(12 of33)
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Egyptian Coptic Christians carry the coffin of a victim of sectarian clashes during a funeral in Cairo on May 8, 2011 as Egypt's military rulers warned they will use an 'iron hand' to protect national security after clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Egyptian capital killed 12 people and injured scores. (Getty)
12 people died in clashes between Muslims and Christians. 190 people were arrested. (credit:Getty)
May 24, 2011(13 of33)
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An Egyptian man looks at a newspaper with a front page picture of ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak on May 25, 2011. (Getty)
State prosecutors announced that Mubarak and his two sons would face trial in a criminal court over allegations of corruption and the attacks on demonstrators in Tahrir Square. Mubarak denied all charges. (credit:Getty)
July 18, 2011(14 of33)
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Egyptian protesters gather in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square on July 18, 2011, to demand political change as anger grows with the military rulers over the slow pace of reform. (Getty)
Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf postponed the appointment of a new cabinet. Confidence in the new government increasingly faltered as police officers accused of killing protesters were freed. Sharaf fired a number of top ministers to quell the protesters. (credit:Getty)
August 1, 2011(15 of33)
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Egyptian riot police and armed forces move into Tahrir Square to disperse several dozen protesters who refused to leave the area. (Getty)
Protesters had gathered again in Cairo's Tahrir Square and held sit-ins during the month of Ramadan. (credit:Getty)
August 3, 2011(16 of33)
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Egyptians carry posters showing Egypt's ousted president behind a noose as they gather outside the court set up in the Cairo Police Academy.
Mubarak and two of his sons stood trial in Cairo. The trial was adjourned. (credit:Getty)
September 10, 2011(17 of33)
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An elderly man runs past flaming vehicles outside the building housing the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. (AP)
A group of about 30 protesters broke into the Israeli embassy and dumped hundreds of documents out of the windows. Crowds tore down the embassy's security wall. Israel evacuates its ambassador. (credit:AP)
September 27, 2011(18 of33)
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Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
Egypt's military announced that the start of parliamentary elections would be scheduled for November 28, 2011. (credit:Getty)
October 9, 2011(19 of33)
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Egyptian Coptic Christian protesters flee as security forces fire into the air to disperse the crowd during a demonstration in Cairo against the attack on a church in southern Egypt in October 9, 2011. (Getty)
At least 24 people were killed and hundreds were wounded when a demonstration of Coptic Christians turned violent. (credit:Getty)
September 30, 2011(20 of33)
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Holding an Egyptian national flag, U.S. actor Sean Penn, center, and Egyptian actor Khaled El-Nabawy, second left, are flanked by protesters in Tahrir Square. (AP)
Thousands of Egyptians protested the decision by the country's military rulers to retain Egypt's three-decade-old emergency law. The emergency law was declared after the attack that killed former Egyptian president Anwar Al Sadat and brought Hosni Mubarak into power. (credit:AP)
October 6, 2011(21 of33)
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Egyptian protesters shout slogans as they gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on October 7, 2011 during a demonstration demanding a clear transition to civilian rule from the country's interim military rulers, in power since a popular revolt in February. (Getty)
On October 6, 2011, Egypt's military rulers announced plans that could keep them in power until 2013. (credit:Getty)
November 19-21, 2011(22 of33)
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A general view shows Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square as Egyptian riot policeman try to disperse protesters on November 20, 2011.
Deadly clashes broke out in central Cairo on November 19, 2011, as protesters called for the resignation of Egypt's military ruler Field Marshall Tantawi. (credit:Getty)
November 25, 2011(23 of33)
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Protestors sit on a wall in Mohammed Mahmoud Street near Tahrir Square after police withdrew on November 23, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Thousands demanding an end to military rule packed Tahrir Square in the biggest turnout of a week of protests and violence that has killed 42 people. Egypt's military council named Kamal Ganzouri to head a national salvation cabinet. (credit:Getty)
November 28, 2011(24 of33)
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A woman places her vote in the ballot box at a polling station in the Shubra district on the second day of voting on November 29, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
First voting in election for the lower house. (credit:Getty)
December 23, 2011(25 of33)
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Egyptian women protest against the military council violations and virginity tests on women, outside the State Council court in Cairo on December 27, 2011. (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
Thousands of Egyptians rallied in Cairo and other cities to demand that the military give up power. (credit:Getty)
December 28, 2011(26 of33)
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A supporter of former President Hosni Mubarak holds his portrait as she joins others gathered ouside the Police Accademy where his trial is being held on the outskirts of Cairo, on December 28, 2011. (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
Mubarak's trial resumed after a two-month recess. (credit:Getty)
January 3-4, 2012(27 of33)
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An Egyptian woman votes at a polling center during the second day of the third round of the elections for Egypt's parliament, in Qalyobeia, Egypt Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party won the final round of elections for Egypt's lower house. The party takes more than two-fifths of the seats, followed by an ultra-orthodox Salafi Islamist party with more than a fifth. (credit:AP)
January 14, 2012(28 of33)
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Former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei pulled out of the race to become president, saying "the previous regime" is still running the country. (credit:Getty)
January 23, 2012(29 of33)
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Newly elected speaker of the Egyptian parliament, Saad al-Katatni, of the Muslim Brotherhood, addresses the first Egyptian parliament session after the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak, January 23, 2012 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Asmma Waguih - Pool/Getty Images)
Egypt's elected Lower House of parliament held its first session. (credit:Getty)
April 17, 2012(30 of33)
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Khairat el-Shater holds a press conference in Cairo on April 9, 2012. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Ten candidates were disqualified from the presidential race, including Mubarak's former spy chief Omar Suleiman and Muslim Brotherhood politician Khairat al-Shater. (credit:Getty)
April 26, 2012(31 of33)
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Egypt's election committee said Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister, can run for president after all, two days after it had disqualified him.
 (credit:Getty)
May 2, 2012(32 of33)
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Eleven people were killed in clashes between anti-army protesters and unidentified armed men. Clashes erupted again two days later. (credit:Getty)
May 10, 2012(33 of33)
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Egyptians watch presidential hopeful candidate moderate Islamist, Abdelmoneim Abul Fotouh (not seen) and former Arab League General Secretary, Amr Mussa speaking during a television live debate at a public screening in Cairo on May 10, 2012. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/GettyImages)
Former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and moderate Islamist Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh faced off in Egypt's first presidential television debate. (credit:Getty)
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