Mubarak Stepping Down From Egyptian Presidency: A Timeline

For the past 30 years, many Egyptians have regarded President Hosni Mubarak in the same way they view the Sphinx and the pyramids at Giza: an immovable, permanent feature of their landscape. But that era has ended.

Mubarak was driven from office today after decades in power and a final show of defiance. The 82-year-old autocrat has turned over all power to the military and fled Cairo for the Egyptian town of Sharm el-Sheik, where he owns a vacation home.

Here's a quick look at how it happened:

The Spark: Dec. 17
Ordinary Egyptians have many reasons to hate Mubarak: His regime was corrupt and brutal, and it squandered the wealth and talent of this proud nation. But they were only inspired to take to the streets and demand change after the very public suicide of a street trader in another North African country.

In mid-December, Mohamed Bouazizi -- a 26-year-old university graduate without a steady job -- set himself on fire outside the governor's palace in central Tunisia in a desperate act of protest against the authorities after they confiscated his only means of income, a fruit and vegetable stand.

News of Bouazizi's death on Jan. 4 caused Tunisians to protest and demand more opportunities for the nation's well-educated but woefully underemployed young people. (More than 50 percent of under-30s are jobless). But when police began to violently crack down on rallies, the protesters started to make more radical demands.

They called for President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali -- who had ruled the country for 23 years and whose cronies and family members controlled almost every aspect of the economy -- to step down and be replaced by a truly democratic government. The revolution had started.

Domino Falls: Jan. 14
A month after the death of Bouazizi, Ben Ali and his family flee to Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi takes over as head of the interim government and promises free and fair elections. The Tunisian people pay a heavy price for toppling Ben Ali -- at least 147 people are killed and 510 wounded during the uprising, the United Nations reports -- but their success inspires others in the region to stand up for their rights.

Day of Rage: Jan. 25
Encouraged by events in Tunisia, tens of thousands of Egyptians take part in the so-called "Day of Rage" and protest against corruption, soaring unemployment and food prices. Police use tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and batons to try to break up the 15,000 people gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Protesters respond by throwing stones and chanting, "Down with Hosni Mubarak, down with the tyrant," and "We don't want you!"

The clashes continue into the night, and the following day the Interior Ministry reports that at least two protesters and one policeman were killed in the violence. Some 500 demonstrators are rounded up and thrown in jail, but many protesters feel emboldened by their unprecedented act of rebellion. "This is the first time I am protesting, but we have been a cowardly nation," Ismail Syed, a hotel worker who lives on a salary of $50 a month, tells The Associated Press. "We have to finally say no."

Reformer Returns: Jan. 27
Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrives in his hometown of Cairo and addresses the crowd in Tahrir Square. The pro-democracy campaigner -- who is better known outside the country than in -- calls on Mubarak to resign immediately and says he is prepared to lead the jumble of opposition groups.

Blackout and Bloodshed: Jan. 28
Activists plan their biggest anti-government demonstration yet, an event subsequently dubbed the "Friday of Anger." To prevent demonstrators from communicating with one another and the outside world, the government orders cell phone networks and Internet service providers to suspend their services.

But the blackout doesn't stop tens of thousands of protesters from marching through the streets. Police and security forces respond with exceptional brutality, and at least 24 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in clashes across the country. Later, Mubarak orders tanks and troops to enforce a nationwide curfew. Protesters, however, welcome and embrace the army, which, unlike the police, is seen as neutral.

The First Concessions: Jan. 29
In a televised speech in the early hours of the morning, Mubarak announces that he understands the protesters' "legitimate demand" for political and economic reform. He sacks his government and names intelligence boss Omar Suleiman as vice president -- the nation's first vice president since Mubarak came to power in 1981.

Protesters dismiss these concessions, insisting that Mubarak must go. Clashes intensify around Tahrir Square and throughout the country. Reuters reports that more than 100 people have been killed since the beginning of the protest, including at least 33 shot dead by security forces that day.

Losing an Ally: Jan. 30
The U.S. starts to distance itself from Mubarak, who receives $1.5 billion in American aid each year. During a phone call with the Egyptian leader, President Barack Obama urges an "orderly transition" to democracy in the country.

The People's Army: Jan. 31
On the eve of the planned "march of millions," Egypt's military declares that it will not use its guns on peaceful protesters. "Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody," the army says in a statement.

Suleiman, meanwhile, tries to cool demonstrators' anger by announcing that the government has opened talks with opposition groups, and that a package of political and economic reforms should be drawn up "expeditiously."

"March of Millions": Feb. 1
As 500,000 protesters march through the capital's streets demanding Mubarak's immediate departure, the embattled president announces that he will step down -- eventually. He declares that he won't seek re-election at the next vote in September but will stay in power until then to ensure a peaceful transition. That concession again fails to win over anti-regime campaigners, who vow to stay on the streets until he quits.

The Fight Back: Feb. 2
Mubarak's supporters decide it's time their voices were heard. Thousands of the president's backers -- some riding camels and horses -- rush to Tahrir Square, and fights break out between rival groups. The factions hurl rocks, sticks and Molotov cocktails at each other, while the military stands by, refusing to intervene. Fighting intensifies the following day, when gunmen open fire on anti-government protesters in Cairo.

Opposition supporters argue that they have evidence that many of their attackers were police and intelligence officers in disguise. The government denies the accusation.

At least 13 people are thought to have died in the battles on Feb. 2 and 3, and 1,200 injured.

Challenge From Obama: Feb. 4
As protests continue to rage across Egypt, Obama urges Mubarak to consider his legacy and leave office in a way that will give peace and democracy a chance to take hold. "I believe that President Mubarak cares about his country," Obama tells reporters. "The key question he should be asking himself is, 'How do I leave a legacy behind in which Egypt is able to get through this transformative period?'"

Yet More Concessions: Feb. 6
Suleiman holds talks with opposition groups, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood -- an Islamist movement that has long been targeted by his intelligence service. The vice president pledges to institute a sweeping set of reforms, including restoring press freedoms and rolling back police powers, so long as the opposition end the demonstrations.

Crucially, however, Suleiman refuses a key opposition demand: Mubarak's immediate resignation. The two sides fail to make much progress but agree to a draft road map for talks.

No Half-Revolution: Feb. 8
Speaking on state television, Suleiman announces that a timetable has been set for the peaceful transfer of power and that protesters would not be subjected to reprisals. The crowds gathered in Tahrir Square dismiss this latest declaration as yet more empty talk and promise they will not give up until Mubarak and his close allies are forced out. "What has happened so far is only half a revolution," Ayman Farag, a Cairo lawyer, tells Reuters. "I hope it will continue to the end."

The Speech: Feb. 10
An Egyptian military commander had told protesters, "All your demands will be met today," but at the end of a long speech, Mubarak refuses to resign, saying only that he's handing over some powers to Suleiman. Suleiman later addresses the nation and tells citizens to go home, get back to work and not listen to outside agitators. But the protesters remain in Tahrir Square and anger builds.