Timeline: Darfur Rebels to sign peace agreement with Sudan

(Reuters) - Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir is due to sign a ceasefire and "framework" deal, listing agreements to be fleshed out in further negotiation, with Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim in Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday.

Here is a timeline of the conflict in the western region of Sudan:

February 2003 - Two rebel groups rise up, saying government neglects arid region and arms Arab militia against civilians.

April 2, 2004 - United Nations says Darfur has become one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

April 8, 2004 - Government, Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels agree ceasefire.

May 5, 2006 - Sudan's government and one SLA faction sign new peace deal. Rival SLA faction and JEM reject the deal.

February 27, 2007 - International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor names first two war crimes suspects in Darfur. Sudan says the ICC has no jurisdiction and rejects arrest warrants.

May 29 - U.S. President George W. Bush imposes new U.S. sanctions on Sudan and asks for support for an international arms embargo to end what he calls genocide in Darfur.

Aug 1 - The U.N. Security Council authorizes 26,000 troops and police for Darfur's hybrid mission and approves the use of force to protect civilians.

Oct 27 - Darfur peace talks open in Libya and the government declares an immediate unilateral ceasefire, but key rebel groups are absent.

May 10, 2008 - JEM rebels make a lightning attack that reaches outskirts of Khartoum.

July 14 - Luis Moreno-Ocampo, ICC prosecutor, asks judges for an arrest warrant for Bashir on crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

October 21 - United Nations says up to 300,000 people have died in Darfur and some 2.5 million have fled their homes since 2003.

November 20 - ICC prosecutor requests arrest warrants for three Darfur rebels including Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, head of the insurgent United Resistance Front faction. He said the rebels orchestrated an attack at the Haskanita AU camp in September 2007, killing 12 peacekeepers.

February 16, 2009 - Sudan and JEM agree on confidence-building measures at talks in Qatar -- a step that may eventually lead to negotiations on a peace deal.

March 4 - The ICC issues an arrest warrant for Bashir. He is charged on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include murder, rape and torture.

March 5 - Bashir responds to his indictment over the conflict in the western Darfur region by ordering 13 foreign aid agencies to leave Sudan.

March 20 - JEM says it has decided to end peace talks with the government until it lets aid groups return.

August 27 - Darfur is no longer in a state of war and only has one rebel group capable of mounting limited military campaigns, Martin Luther Agwai, outgoing head of UNAMID, says. The statement is quickly dismissed by Darfur insurgents.

October 19 - U.S. President Barack Obama's administration says it will renew economic sanctions on Sudan, but also offers Khartoum new incentives to end violence in Darfur.

February 16, 2010 - UNAMID peacekeepers in Darfur receive their first five military helicopters, ending a more than two-year wait for air support.

February 20 - JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim and Sudanese officials sign an initial framework agreement in Chad which also includes a ceasefire, plans to integrate JEM into Sudan's army and a promise to reach a final peace deal by March 15.

February 23 - JEM rebels say they were attacked by government forces two days after signing a ceasefire deal with Sudan. Sudan's army denies the attack.

-- Bashir and Ibrahim are to ratify a ceasefire agreement in Doha.