TIMELINE: Many dead after Guinea forces shoot protesters

(Reuters) - The African Union threatened Guinea's military junta with sanctions on Tuesday as the death toll climbed from a crackdown by security on opponents of military ruler Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.

Here is a timeline about Guinea in the last ten years:

December 1998 - Lansana Conte is re-elected in a vote held after the arrest of his main challenger, Alpha Conde, for sedition.

November 2001 - A referendum changes the constitution to lift a limit on serving two presidential terms which would have forced Conte to retire in 2003. The opposition rejects the result.

December 2003 - Conte is re-elected.

January 2005 - Dissident soldiers attempt to assassinate Conte as he drives through Conakry, the country's capital.

February 2007 - Conte appoints Lansana Kouyate as prime minister after a general strike and protests which kills over 180.

May 2007 - Army protests leave at least 10 civilians dead. Conte sacks some senior commanders.

May 2008 - Several people are killed in an army pay revolt following the dismissal of Kouyate. The government pays salary arrears.

December 23 - Government announces Conte's death. A group of soldiers attempt a coup d'etat.

December 24 - Junta chief Captain Moussa Dadis Camara is chosen as de facto head of state by the military junta, but says he will not stand for president in elections promised in 2010.

December 25 - Deposed Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare endorses the coup, reversing his initial opposition.

December 27 - Senegal endorses Guinea's military junta as it appeals for international backing.

December 29 - The African Union condemns the coup and suspends Guinea, calling for a return to constitutional order.

January 14, 2009 - Camara names a government of around 30 ministers including both military and civilian figures.

April 23 - Tension at the main military base after the country's leader canceled a trip to Libya prompts the overnight deployment of soldiers in Conakry.

August 18 - A cross-party committee says it has recommended postponing until 2010 elections due later in 2009, raising speculation that junta leader Camara may take part.

-- Camara says in a statement he is "satisfied" with the committee's work but does not comment on the timetable proposed, which would involve a first round on January 31 with a run-off on February 14. Legislation elections would follow on March 26.

Sept 28 - Guinean security forces kill more than 150 people after firing live rounds to disperse thousands of protesters who wanted to hold a rally in a sports stadium, a rights body says.

-- Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of major opposition group the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), and several other politicians are arrested by the security forces.

-- France condemns what it said was the Guinean army's "violent repression of a peaceful demonstration."

September 29 - The AU threatens Guinea with sanctions and calls on Camara to confirm he will honor his pledge not to stand in a presidential election.