DAKAR, 25 June 2010 (IRIN) - Guineans will vote in a presidential election on 27 June seen as the mineral-rich West African country's first chance at elected civilian rule since independence in 1958.

Here is a timeline:

23 December 2008 - Death of President Lansana Conté announced; he had ruled for 24 years and groomed no successor. Confusion as soldiers seize power; Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souaré insists he in charge

24 December 2008 – Captain Moussa Dadis Camara proclaims himself president and head of the new National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), comprising 26 officers and six civilians. He tours the capital, Conakry, greeted by civilian supporters

25 December 2008 - Camara announces presidential elections to be held after a two-year transition, rules himself out as a candidate

25 December 2008 - Prime Minister Souaré and other government officials turn themselves in at Alpha Yaya Diallo army barracks, CNDD headquarters

January 2009 – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rejects a military-led transition in Guinea and bars CNDD members from attending its meetings

17 August 2009 – CNDD accepts recommendation by civil society organizations, political parties, unions and religious groups to hold presidential election in January 2010, legislative election in March 2010

19 August 2009 - Camara tells journalists whether he runs for president "is up to God"

17 September 2009 - Peace and Security Council of the African Union threatens sanctions against any member of the CNDD should they run for president, and expresses "deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Guinea"

28 September 2009 - Guineans assemble in national stadium to protest Camara's candidacy, defying a ban by the authorities. Soldiers attack the rally, shooting and stabbing people and raping women and girls; human rights organizations say at least 150 killed and more than 1,000 injured

2 October 2009 - Junta holds a ceremony to bury the bodies of the 57 people it says died in 28 September violence, but scuffles break out as hundreds of Guineans search in vain for family members thought to be detained or killed: Camara says presidential elections in Guinea will go forward as planned in January 2010: ECOWAS names Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaoré mediator for Guinea

12 October 2009 - ECOWAS chief Mohamed Ibn Chambas says CNDD guilty of "arbitrary and irresponsible" use of state power; Nigerian president Umaru Yar'adua calls for a special regional summit

14 October 2009 - International Criminal Court prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, confirms that the situation in Guinea is under preliminary examination by his office

16 October 2009 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announces he will set up an international inquiry into the 28 September military crackdown on demonstrators

17 October 2009 – An emergency ECOWAS meeting imposes an arms embargo on Guinea

3 December 2009 – Camara shot and wounded by his Aide-de-camp, Aboubacar Diakité, who believed to have commanded the troops responsible for the 28 September atrocity

4 January 2010 – Camara flies to Morocco for treatment

12 January 2010 – Camara arrives in Burkina Faso

15 January 2010 - CNDD officials sign agreement in Burkina Faso leaving interim leader, Brigadier-General Sékouba Konaté, in power to organize elections and a transition to civilian rule

26 January 2010 – Jean-Marie Doré, long-time opposition leader, takes office as prime minister to form a new government and oversee the transition

24 May 2010 – Guinea Supreme Court releases list of 24 candidates eligible to run in 27 June presidential election

17 June 2010 – Peace and Security Council of the African Union welcomes progress in Guinea's transition to civilian rule; calls on political actors to exercise restraint and calls on the international community to support the transition and Guinea's socio-economic recovery