Important Dates: 2005

Important Events in 2005

January – Algeria: Authorities announce the arrest of rebel Armed Islamic Group (GIA) head Nourredine Boudiafi and the killing of his deputy and declare the group to be virtually dismantled. Government makes deal with Berber leaders, promising more investment in Kabylie region and greater recognition for Tamazight language.

January – Libya: Libya's first auction of oil and gas exploration licences heralds the return of US energy companies for the first time in more than 20 years.

January – Sudan: Government and southern rebels sign peace deal to end their long-running conflict. The agreement includes a permanent ceasefire and accords on wealth and power sharing

9 January – Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas wins Palestinian Presidential Elections.

15 January – Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas sworn in as Palestinian President.

18 January – Morocco: State visit by King Juan Carlos of Spain reflects warming in relations between the two countries.

26 January – Oman: Nearly 100 suspected Islamists are arrested on suspicions that they were going to attack a festival.

30 January – Iraq: An estimated eight million people vote in elections for a Transitional National Assembly in. The Shia United Iraqi Alliance wins a majority of assembly seats. Kurdish parties come second in the poll.

31 January – Tunisia: Visiting Tunis, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin makes an unexpected appeal for democratic reform in Tunisia.

February – Saudi Arabia: First-ever nationwide municipal elections. Women do not take part in the poll.

3 February – Mauritania: Four soldiers, accused of plotting three coups, are handed life sentences.

8 February – Palestine: Palestine and Israel announce a cease-fire.

14 February – Lebanon: Former prime minister Rafiq Hariri is killed in a massive car bomb attack in Beirut.  

20 February- Jordan: Jordan returns its ambassador to Israel after a four-year absence. Amman recalled its envoy in 2000 after the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising.

28 February – Iraq: More than 100 people are killed by a massive car bomb in Hilla, south of Baghdad. It is the worst single such incident since the US-led invasion.

March – Lebanon: Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese rally in Beirut to show support for both Syria and an independent Lebanon.

20 March – Qatar: A car bomb blast at a theatre near a British school in Doha kills one Briton and injures 12 other people.

March-April – Yemen: More than 200 people are killed in a resurgence of fighting between government forces and supporters of the slain rebel cleric Hussein al-Houthi.

6 April – Iraq: Parliament selects Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani as president; Ibrahim Jaafari, a Shia, is named as prime minister. The formation of a new government comes amid an escalation in deadly violence.

7 April – Jordan: A new cabinet is sworn in, led by Prime Minister Adnan Badran, after the previous government resigns amid reports of the king's unhappiness over the pace of reforms.

24 April - Lebanon: Syria says it has withdrawn all of its military forces, as demanded by the UN.

2 May – Oman: Thirty-one Omanis, out of an original 100 arrested in January, are convicted of trying to overthrow the government.

14 May – Yemen: President Saleh says the leader of the rebellion in the north has agreed to renounce the campaign in return for a pardon.

16 May – Kuwait: Parliament approves constitutional amendments to give women full political rights.

25 May – Egypt: Referendum vote backs a constitutional amendment that will allow multiple candidates to stand in presidential elections.

26 May – Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas meets with U.S. President George Bush.

2 June – Lebanon: Prominent journalist Samir Qasir, a critic of Syrian influence in Lebanon, is killed by a car bomb.

9 June – Oman: The Thiry-one Omanis who had been convicted of trying to overthrow the government were pardoned.

16 June – Iraq: Massoud Barzani sworn in as regional president of Iraqi Kurdistan.

19 June – Lebanon: Anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri wins control of parliament following elections. New parliament chooses Hariri ally Fouad Siniora as prime minister-designate.

21 June – Lebanon: George Hawi, anti-Syrian former leader of Lebanese Communist Party, killed when his car is blown up.

20 June – Sudan: Government and exiled opposition grouping - National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - sign reconciliation deal allowing NDA into power-sharing administration.

30 June – Sudan: President frees Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi, who was detained in 2004 over an alleged coup plot.

9 July – Sudan: Former southern rebel leader John Garang is sworn in as first vice president. A constitution which gives a large degree of autonomy to the south is signed.

30 July – Sudan: Vice President John Garang is killed in a helicopter crash.

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