In points: A timeline of Myanmar's politics

A TIMELINE OF MYANMAR:
1948: Burma becomes independent with U Nu as prime minister.

Mid-1950s: U Nu, together with Indian Prime Minister Nehru, Indonesian President Sukarno, Yugoslav President Tito and Egyptian President Nasser co-found NAM.


1958-60: Caretaker government, led by army Chief of Staff General Ne Win, formed following a split in the ruling AFPFL party.

1962: Military coup led by Gen Ne Win, who abolishes the federal system and inaugurates "the Burmese Way to Socialism" - nationalising the economy.

1974: New constitution comes into effect, transferring power from the armed forces to a People's Assembly headed by Ne Win and other former military leaders

1975: Opposition National Democratic Front formed by regionally-based minority groups, who mounted guerrilla insurgencies.

1988: Thousands of people are killed in anti-government riots. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) is formed.

1990: Opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) wins landslide victory in general election, but the result is ignored by the military.

1991: Aung San Suu Kyi awarded Nobel Peace Prize

1995: Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest after six years.

2000: Ruling council lifts restrictions on movements of Aung San Suu Kyi and senior NLD members.

2002: Suu Kyi released after nearly 20 months of house arrest.

2005: Myanmar says its seat of government is moving to a new site near the central town of Pyinmana; it is later given the name Nay Pyi Taw.

2008: Cyclone Nargis hits the low-lying Irrawaddy delta. Some estimates put the death toll as high as 134,000.

2009: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announces plans for engagement with military rulers.

2009 October: Aung San Suu Kyi begins talks with Myanmar's military leaders and is allowed to meet Western diplomats.

2010: Main military-backed party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), claims resounding victory in first election for 20 years.

2011: Thein Sein is sworn in as president of a new, nominally civilian government.

2012: NLD candidates sweep the board in parliamentary by-elections, with Aung San Suu Kyi elected. The European Union suspends all non-military sanctions against Burma for a year.

2013: President Thein Sein visits Washington.

2014: Parliamentary elections set for October/November 2015.

2015: A draft ceasefire agreement is signed between the government and 16 rebel groups.

2017 :PM Narendra Modi visits Myanmar
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims seek refuge in Bangladesh.

2020: NLD returns to power with landslide