Yemen - Country history and economic development

1538. Yemen falls under Ottoman rule.

1839. The British occupy Aden in southern Yemen.

1918. North Yemen gains independence from the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I (1914-1918), calling itself the Yemen Arab Republic.

1935. The British create the Aden Protectorates.

1962. A group of nationalist officers revolt against the British and proclaim the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) under the leadership of Abdullah al-Sallal.

1967. South Yemen gains independence from the United Kingdom.

1970. South Yemen, renamed the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, nationalizes foreign-owned properties and establishes close ties with the Soviet Union.

1974-1978. A series of military coups in North Yemen leads to the ascendancy of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who rules until the 1990 unification.

1986. A 12-day civil war erupts within the government of South Yemen. Former premier Haydar Bakr al-Attas is elected president in October.

1990. The Republic of Yemen is established peacefully on 22 May.

1993. Fair, multi-party, universal-suffrage elections are won by the General People's Congress.

1994. The south rebels against northern domination. The north wins, and the constitution is amended to establish a multiparty democracy.

1995. The government launches an economic reform program.

1999. In the first direct presidential election, Saleh returns to office.

2001. First municipal elections in country's history. The ruling General People's Congress wins the majority of seats. The constitution is amended to extend the term of the president from 5 to 7 years and parliamentary terms from 4 to 6.