TIMELINE: Pakistan's tumultuous politics

(Reuters) - Pakistan's ruling coalition split apart this week on wrangling over the presidency and deposed judges, infighting critics say distracted the government from effectively tackling rising militant violence and a sagging economy.

The two parties that had led the coalition have put forward separate candidates for a presidential election on September 6, as has the opposition party that supported former president Pervez Musharraf.

Firm U.S. ally Musharraf resigned last week in the face of an impeachment threat from the coalition. Nuclear-armed Pakistan's two-chambered parliament and four provincial assemblies will vote in a replacement for Musharraf.

Here is a chronology showing the events that led to the downfall of Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in December 1999 and became president in 2001, and highlights of the political jockeying since:

March 9, 2007 - Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry over allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally around the top judge and Musharraf's popularity plummets.

July 10 - Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement there. At least 105 people are killed. Militant attacks and suicide bombings follow.

July 20 - Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry, dealing a blow to Musharraf's authority.

July 27 - Musharraf meets former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi for inconclusive talks on how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto demands Musharraf step down as army chief.

Sept 10 - Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from exile, despite the Supreme Court clearing his return. He is deported to Saudi Arabia.

Oct 2 - Musharraf's government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.

Oct 6 - Musharraf wins a presidential vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.

Oct 19 - Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile.

Nov 2 - Supreme Court meets to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while still army chief.

Nov 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.

Nov 11 - Musharraf sets parliamentary elections for January 8.

Nov 13 - Bhutto placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before planned march against emergency rule. Bhutto says Musharraf must quit as president.

Nov 15 - Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker line-up to oversee elections.

Nov 22 - Commonwealth suspends Pakistan.

Nov 25 - Sharif returns from exile.

Nov 28 - Tearful Musharraf hands command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.

Nov 29 - Musharraf is sworn in as civilian leader.

Dec 15 - Musharraf lifts state of emergency, restores constitution.

Dec 27 - Bhutto is assassinated in a gun and bomb attack.

Jan 2 - Election delayed from January 8 to February 18 because of disturbances after Bhutto's assassination.

Feb 18 - Resounding election victory for parties led by Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari (Pakistan People's Party) and Sharif (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)).

March 9 - Sharif says he will join Zardari in coalition hostile to Musharraf.

Aug 7 - Ruling coalition agrees on plan to impeach Musharraf for violation of the constitution and misconduct.

Aug 18 - Musharraf resigns after nearly nine years in power.

Aug 22 - Presidential election announced for September 6.

Aug 23 - PPP says it will nominate Zardari for president.

Aug 25 - Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) pulls out of coalition and names a former chief justice, Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, as its candidate for president. The pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League also nominates a candidate, top party official Mushahid Hussain Sayed.

(Writing by David Cutler and Gillian Murdoch; Additional writing by Jerry Norton; Editing by Robert Birsel)