Major events in the Bolivian crisis over the government's gas export plan, which led to President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's (search) resignation Friday:

— 2002: Bolivian government reaches agreement with international consortium Pacific LNG (search) to export natural gas to the United States and Mexico. Project calls for $6 billion investment, would earn $4 billion a year.

— Aug. 6, 2002: Wealthy mining businessman Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada is sworn in as Bolivia's president for a five-year term following a tight election victory that required congressional ratification. He calls the gas reserves and the export project "a gift from God" to South America's poorest nation.

— Feb. 12-13, 2003: Bloody riots shake the country as Bolivians protest tax hikes. Violence includes clashes between mutinous police officers and army soldiers. Thirty-one people are killed.

— Sept. 15, 2003: Peasants demonstrate and block roads to protest the gas export plan, saying gas must be processed in Bolivia for the benefit of Bolivians.

— Sept. 19, 2003: Miners, workers and other Bolivians join the protests in the so-called "gas war," holding marches and demonstrations in several cities.

— Sept. 20, 2003: Seven people are killed in a clash between peasants and soldiers in the town of Warisata, 45 miles from La Paz near Titicaca Lake.

— Sept. 25, 2003: The Bolivian Workers Central (search), the country's largest labor federation, joins the protests and adds a crucial demand — that Sanchez de Lozada must resign.

— Sept. 29, 2003: A nationwide protest starts, with demonstrators demanding the president's resignation.

— Oct. 9-12: Violent protests in El Alto, a city of 750,000 people, near La Paz.

— Oct. 13-14, 2003: Clashes spread to La Paz. Death toll since protests began jumps to more than 60, according to human rights groups. The government does not confirm the figures.

— Oct. 13: Sanchez de Lozada says he will freeze the gas export plan and offers Bolivians a referendum. The opposition refuses to accept his offer, and protests seeking his ouster continue.

— Oct. 17: 2003: Sanchez de Lozada resigns.