Libya confirmed Thursday that Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled the oil-rich country with an iron fist for some 40 years, was killed in his hometown of Sirte Thursday.
The death of the notorious leader follows a nine-month struggle between NATO forces and groups loyal to Gadhafi.
Here is a timeline of events in 2011 leading to the death of Gadhafi:
Feb. 15 - The arrest of human rights activist Fethi Tarbel prompts a riot in Benghazi.
Feb. 24 - Anti-government forces take control of central coastal city of Misrata after forces loyal to Gadhafi are evicted.
Feb. 25 - Security forces loyal to Gadhafi try to disperse thousands of protesters who stream out of mosques after prayers.
Feb. 26 - The UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Gadhafi and his family, and refers the crackdown on rebels to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Feb. 28 - Sanctions against Gadhafi are approved by EU governments.
March 2 - Rebels in Brega repel an attack by Gadhafi soldiers marking the first incursion by Gadhafi forces since the uprising began.
March 17 - UN Security Council authorizes a no-fly zone over Libya and begins military action.
March 19 - The first air strikes halt advance of Gadhafi's forces on Benghazi and target Libya's air defences.
March 29 - U.S. President Barack Obama defends military action against Libya.
April 3 - At least two of Gadhafi's sons propose resolutions to the conflict which include Gadhafi relinquishing power.
April 30 - NATO missile attack on a house in Tripoli kills Gadhafi's youngest son and three grandchildren.
May 5 - The United States seeks to release some of the more than $30 billion in assets seized from Gadhafi.
May 11 - Rebels storm Misrata airport.
June 27 - ICC issues arrest warrants for Gadhafi, son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity.
July 28 - Top rebel military commander Gen. Abdul Fattah Younes killed.
Aug. 15 - Gadhafi interior minister Nassr al-Mabrouk Abdullah reportedly defects to Cairo.
Aug. 21 - Rebels enter Tripoli with little resistance.
Aug. 23 - Rebels overrun Gadhafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli.
Aug. 29 - Gadhafi's wife, his daughter Aisha and two of his sons enter Algeria.
Sept. 1 - Libya's interim rulers meet world leaders at a conference in Paris to discuss reshaping Libya, while Gadhafi, on the 42nd anniversary of his coming to power, urges supporters to fight on.
Sept. 8 - Interim prime minister Mahmoud Jibril arrives in Tripoli.
Sept. 11 - Libya starts producing oil again. First shipment sent to Italy 14 days later.
Sept. 16 - The UN Security Council eases sanctions on Libya.
Sept. 20 - Obama calls for the last of Gadhafi's loyalist forces to surrender as he announces the return of the U.S. ambassador to Tripoli.
Sept. 21 - Interim rulers say they have captured most of Sabha, one of three main towns where Gadhafi loyalists have been holding out since the fall of Tripoli.
Sept. 27 鈥� NATO says Libya's interim rulers take control of the country's stockpile of chemical weapons and nuclear material.
Oct. 12 - Government fighters capture Gadhafi's son Mo'tassim as he tries to escape Sirte.
Oct. 14 - Gunfights break out in Tripoli between Gadhafi supporters and National Transitional Council (NTC) forces.
Oct. 17 鈥� NTC forces capture Bani Walid.
Oct. 20 - Fighters capture Gadhafi's hometown Sirte, ending a two-month siege.
Oct. 20 - Gadhafi confirmed dead after being captured near Sirte.
