Timeline of Events

April 18 1989 Several thousand students march through the capital in predawn hours, chanting democratic slogans, singing revolutionary songs and mourning the ousted Communist Party leader, Hu Yaobang, who died April 15th.

April 22 Defying a ban on public protests, more then 100,000 gather in Tiananmen Square to press demands for more democracy. Tens of thousands of university students begin to camping all night in the square, following Government plans to close off the are.

April 29 Waving banners commemorating a similar demonstration 70 years earlier, protesters march through the street of the capitol, demanding greater press freedom and more democracy. The march follows the Government's rejection of the students' conditions for formal talks to resolve their differences. Demonstrations are also held in Shanghai, Nanjing and other cities.

May 13 About 2,000 students begin a hunger strike at Tiananmen Squre.

May 14 An unannounced Politburo meeting reportedly endorses the moderate line of the Communist Party leader, Zhao Ziyang, including more discussion with the students and limited steps toward greater democracy.

May 15 Mikhail S. Gorbachev arrives in Beijing to seal the reconciliation of the two Communist nations. Hunger strikers camped out in the square refuse to end their vigil, forcing the authorities to move their welcoming ceremony for the Soviet leader to the airport.

May 19 Prime Minister Li Ping warns that chaos in Beijing is spreading all over the country. The Government capitulates on a key student demand by arranging a nationally televised meeting between Mr. Li and leaders of the protest. "We've come too late," a tearful Mr. Zhao says at the meeting. "You have good intentions. You want our country to become better. The problems you have raised will eventually be resolved."

May 20 Troops are called into the capital and martial law is imposed in parts of the city as the Government attempts crack down. "We must adopt firm and resolute measures to end the turmoil swiftly." Prime Minster Li says. Tens of thousands people rush out of their homes blocking troops from reaching demonstrators in the central square. Later in the day, about one million Chinese take to the street to defy martial law.

May 25 Mr. Li declares that his Government is in control and sends a letter to troops encircling Beijing, expressing the hope that, "the troops will overcome the difficulties confronting them" and "successfully impose martial law."

May 27 Some student leaders call for an end to their occupation of Tiananmen Square, but say they will continue to hold large-scale demonstrations to press for greater democracy and the resignation of Prime Minster Li.

June 2 Unarmed troops try to march on the square but are driven back by thousands of citizens.

June 3 A violent confrontation begins as troops again march on the square, beating dozens of protesters before retreating.

June 4 Troops and tanks return to the square, opening fire on throngs and destroying barricades.