10 March 1998: President Kabbah makes a triumphant return to Freetown amid scenes of public rejoicing.

January 1999: Rebels backing Foday Sankoh seize parts of Freetown from Ecomog. After weeks of bitter fighting they are driven out, leaving behind a devastated city.

February 1999: An inquiry in the UK into the supply of weapons to Kabbah supporters by the British company, Sandline - at the time of a UN embargo - is highly critical of civil servants and ministers.

Fragile peace

May 18 1999: A ceasefire is greeted with cautious optimism in Freetown. In hospitals and amputee camps, victims of rebel atrocities express hope that eight years of civil war may soon be over.

17 July 1999: Six weeks of talks in the Togolese capital, Lome, result in a peace agreement, under which the rebels receive posts in government and assurances that they will not be prosecuted for war crimes.

UN under attack

November/December 1999:UN troops arrive to police the peace agreement - but one rebel leader, Sam Bokari, says they are not welcome. Meanwhile, Ecomog troops are attacked outside Freetown.

January 2000: The UN faces difficulties deploying troops in the north of the country, and rebel chief Foday Sankoh says the UN has no business in Sierra Leone - a remark which causes amazement in the UN mission.

February 2000: A UN report says rebel atrocities are continuing, with abduction, rape and house-burning an almost daily occurrence.

April/May 2000: UN forces come under attack in the east of the country, but far worse is in store when first 50, then 300 UN troops are abducted.

Rebels retreat

May 2000: The rebels are once again forced onto the defensive as leader Foday Sankoh is captured, Britain announces a military assistance plan for the government, and the captured UN soldiers are released.

June-July 2000: The British military task-force sent to help restore order departs, leaving behind a training force and UN troops surrounded by rebels are freed in a dramatic rescue effort.

August 2000:The UN agree to pursue rebels through an international tribunal, the government say detained rebel leader Foday Sankoh has been replaced by a young commander and 11 British troops are captured by a renegade militia group.