Somalia's Islamist movement told arch-foe Ethiopia on Tuesday to withdraw its troops from the Horn of Africa nation within a week or face war.
The Islamists have all but dashed the aspirations of the Western-backed government to restore central rule to Somalia for the first time since the ouster of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
Here is a short chronology of Somalia since 1991.
Nov. 1991 - Power struggle after the overthrow of Barre between clan warlords Mohamed Farah Aideed and Ali Mahdi Mohamed kills and wounds thousands of civilians. The rivals sign a U.N.-sponsored truce in early 1992 but disagree on monitoring.
Dec. 1992 - United Nations Security Council endorses full-scale military operation led by the United States. A week later U.S. Marines hit Mogadishu's beaches under the glare of television lights in "Operation Restore Hope".
Oct. 1993 - Eighteen U.S. Army Rangers and one Malaysian are killed when Somali militias shoot down two U.S. helicopters in Mogadishu and a battle ensues. Hundreds of Somalis die in the fighting. U.S. mission formally ends in March 1994.
Aug. 2000 - Transitional National Government (TNG) established to try to unite warring Somalis. The TNG's authority subsequently withers amid opposition from warlords.
Oct. 2004 - In 14th attempt since 1991 to restore central government, lawmakers elect Ethiopian-backed warlord Abdullahi Yusuf as president. In December, new Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi swears in 27 ministers in Kenya.
Feb. 2005 - Somali president and prime minister arrive in Somalia in the central town of Jowhar for the first time since their new government was formed in Kenya.
Feb. 2006 - Lawmakers arrive in Baidoa for parliament's first meeting on home soil.
June 2006 - The Islamic Courts Union seizes the capital Mogadishu from U.S.-backed warlords and take control of parts of southern Somalia. The interim government and the ICU recognise each other in their first direct high-level talks in Sudan.
Sept. 25, 2006 - President Yusuf escapes a bomb attack that killed five outside parliament in Baidoa.
- Islamist fighters take over the southern port of Kismayo, Somalia's third largest city, effectively flanking the Baidoa-based government on three sides.
Oct. 9 - Islamists declare holy war against Ethiopia, which they accuse of invading Somalia to help the government briefly seize Buur Hakabaa, controlled by pro-Islamist fighters.
Nov. 30 - A suicide car bomb kills at least seven people near the Somali government seat of Baidoa.
- Hours before the blast, Ethiopia's parliament votes to let its government take all necessary steps to rebuff any invasion by the Islamists.
Dec. 7 - The U.N. Security Council passes a resolution endorsing African peacekeepers for Somalia to help prop up the interim administration.
Dec. 12 - Islamists tell Ethiopia to leave within Somalia seven days or face war.