March 19 French, US and British forces, under a UN mandate, launch air attacks on Muammar Gaddafi's forces who retreat from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
March 26-28 Benefiting from Western air strikes, rebels advance westwards, taking several key towns.
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March 30 Gaddafi's forces push back. Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa defects to Britain.
March 31 NATO takes command of the coalition campaign.
April 1 In a "friendly fire" incident, NATO attacks kill nine rebels and four civilians.
April 10-11 An African Union delegation meets Gaddafi and the rebels. The former accepts their peace plan, but the latter reject it.
April 15 The leaders of Britain, France and the United States publish a joint article ruling out a future for Libya under Gaddafi. Russia accuses NATO of exceeding its UN mandate.
April 20 France and Italy join Britain in sending military advisers to assist the rebel shadow government in Benghazi.
Two press photographers are among those killed during fighting in the rebel-held western town of Misrata, besieged by government forces.
April 21 Rebels overrun a post on the Tunisian border.
April 23 The United States says it has launched its first strike using an unmanned military aircraft, or drone.
April 24 Rebels make significant gains in Misrata, where at least 55 are killed in 48 hours.
April 25 A NATO air strike wrecks Gaddafi's office in his Tripoli residence.
April 26 The rebels say they have pushed Gaddafi's forces out of Misrata, although rockets fall on the city's port.
April 27 Rebels backed by NATO air strikes say they have pushed back Gaddafi's forces and secured the port of Misrata.
Some 61 Libyan tribes issue a statement urging Gaddafi to resign.
NATO allies agree to establish a civilian post in Benghazi.
April 28 Several blasts rock Tripoli.
Rebels recapture the Dehiba post on the Libya-Tunisia border after heavy fighting leaves eight Gaddafi soldiers dead.
Insurgents appeal for heavy weapons from the West.
April 29 Rebels and Gaddafi's forces battle for control of Misrata airport.
April 30 Gaddafi vows not to quit power but calls for talks to end the conflict. NATO and rebels decline the proposal.
May 1 Gaddafi escapes a NATO air strike, which kills his youngest son, Seif al-Arab, and three of his grandchildren.
The Italian and British embassies attacked in Tripoli. Britain expels the Libyan ambassador. The United Nations pulls its staff out of Tripoli.
Forces loyal to Gaddafi bombard the port of Misrata, which is in flames.
Clashes at the Dehiba border post with Tunisia.
May 2 Gaddafi tanks pound Misrata.
Turkey closes its embassy in Tripoli.
Seif al-Arab, Gaddafi's son, is buried with three of the leader's grandchildren.
