THE UNREST IN Syria has been ongoing since the middle of March. Here is a rundown of the events as they happened:

• 16 March: A gathering of around 150 protesters is broken up by security forces in Damascus; witnesses say at least 30 people were arrested.

• 18 March: Three protesters are killed by security forces in southern Daraa.

• 20 March:  Residents report that crowds set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party in Deraa.

• 23 March: Six people are killed  at the Omari mosque in Deraa. The funerals of nine Syrian protesters draw 20,000 Syrians chanting freedom slogans.
• 25 March : At least 200 people march in Damascus, leading to clashes with troops.

• 26 March: 260 political prisoners are released.  Twelve people are killed in protests in the town of Latakia.

• 27 March: The army is deployed to Latakia.
• 28 March: Two Reuters journalists who went missing in Syria were later released by the country’s authorities.

• 29 March: The government resigns and Naji al-Otari, former government head, is appointed as the new caretaker prime minister for Syria.

• 30 March: President Assad tells parliament that instructions have been issued to security forces not to harm anyone during the protests. In a public address, he blames “conspirators” for trying to “bring down Syria”.

• 31 March: A committee is set up to look into replacing the emergency law with anti-terrorism legislation.

• 1 April: Hundreds of protesters march in several cities and security forces beat demonstrators outside a Damascus mosque.

• 3 April: Thousands call for freedom at the funeral of eight protesters.
• 5 April: The government reverses the ban on the Islamic face veil and also closes the country’s only casino.

• 8 April: Protests erupt across Syria and sources say 25 people are killed in Daraa. In the east, thousands of ethnic Kurds demonstrate for reform.

• 9 April: A Syrian rights group accuses security forces of committing a crime against humanity by killing at least 37 people during Friday’s demonstrations across the country.

• 14 April: The president unveils a new cabinet and orders the release of detainees arrested during a month of protests.

• 19 April: The Syrian government passes a bill lifting emergency rule.

• 21 April: The president ratifies the law ending emergency rule after 48 years.

• 22 April: More than 100 people are killed by gunmen and security forces.

• 23 April: Mourners at mass funerals of pro-democracy protesters are shot at by security forces.

• 24 April: Syrian forces raid homes near Damascus overnight.

• 25 April: Syria closes its land border crossings with neighbouring Jordan.

• 25 April: US State Department orders some non-official embassy officials in Damascus and all embassy dependents to leave Syria.

• 25 April: Some 500 protesters are arrested during a crackdown on pro-democracy supporters.