Libya's Decade of Civil War and Chaos

Oil-rich Libya, whose parliament on Tuesday passed a no-confidence vote in its unity government, has been mired in chaos since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011.

The unity government, only installed in March, was to rule until elections scheduled for December, replacing two rival governments who have battled for years in a bloody struggle for control of the country.

Here is a timeline:

- 2011: Gadhafi killed -

Encouraged by Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, protests erupt in Libya in February 2011.

Washington, Paris and London give military backing to what becomes an armed revolt.

Gadhafi, in power for 42 years, flees the capital but is captured and killed on October 20.

In August 2012, the rebel council hands over power to a transitional authority, the General National Congress (GNC).

- 2012: Embassies targeted -

US ambassador Chris Stevens and three American staff are killed in a September 11, 2012 attack on their consulate in Libya's second city, Benghazi. An Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group is blamed.

A car bomb in April 2013 targets France's Tripoli embassy, wounding two French guards.

Most foreign diplomats leave the country.

- 2014: Rival governments -

Military strongman Khalifa Haftar launches an offensive in May 2014 against jihadist groups in Benghazi. He names his forces the Libyan National Army, and several officers from the east join him.

Legislative polls are held in June, producing a parliament -- the House of Representatives -- dominated by anti-Islamists.

But Islamist-led militias contest the results and storm Tripoli in August, restoring the GNC to power.

The internationally recognized the House of Representatives takes refuge in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Libya thus finds itself with two governments and two parliaments.

- 2015-16: Failed accord -

In  December 2015, after months of talks and international pressure, the rival parliaments sign an accord in Morocco establishing a Government of National Accord.

In March 2016, GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj arrives in Tripoli to install the new administration, but the House of Representatives never holds a vote of confidence on it and Haftar refuses to recognize it.

- 2019: Haftar's offensives -

Haftar announces the "total liberation" of Benghazi from jihadists in July 2017, after more than three years of fighting.

He is backed by neighboring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, later also forming links with Russia.

In January 2019, Haftar launches an offensive into oil-rich southern Libya, seizing the region's capital, Sebha, and one of the country's main oil fields.

In April he orders his troops to advance on Tripoli.

- Foreign involvement -

Russia reportedly sends mercenaries in November 2019 to help Haftar's forces.

The UN in December accuses several countries of breaching a 2011 arms embargo by supplying both camps.

The following month Turkey sends troops to help the Tripoli government.

In early June government forces say they have overrun Haftar's last western stronghold.

- 2020: Talks and ceasefire -

On October 23, 2020 the rival governments sign a "permanent" ceasefire agreement after five days of UN-hosted talks in Geneva. The following month in Tunis they agree to hold elections in December 2021.

A unity government headed by interim prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah is approved by lawmakers on March 10, 2021 to steer the country through to elections.

- 2021: Tensions mount again -

The UN envoy for Libya, Jan Kubis, warns on July 15 of an "stalemate" over political and security plans and Dbeibah's proposed budget.

On September 9, parliament speaker Aguila Saleh ratifies a law governing the presidential election -- and allowing his ally Haftar to stand -- but sparks criticism for not submitting the text to a vote.

Then on Tuesday Libya's parliament passes a no-confidence vote in the unity government.