1992: Li Hongzhi, 47, a former security staff member in a grain company in Changchun, northeastern Jilin province, founds the Falun Gong group.

April 19, 1999: Physicist He Zuoxiu publishes an article in the port city of Tianjin denouncing Falun Gong as superstitious, sparking off demonstrations.

April 20-24: Demonstrations in Tianjin, some leaders arrested.

April 25: More than 10,000 adherents rounded up at Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing, the residence of Chinese top leaders.

May 3: Li Hongzhi calls on Beijing to start dialogue with the movement.

June 6: Police round up busloads of members at a stadium in western Beijing after 100 members stage a protest. .

July 22: Beijing outlaws Falun Gong and brands it a cult. Thousands of followers rounded up throughout the country.

July 27: US State Department calls on Beijing to exercise restraint.

July 29: Beijing issues an arrest warrant for US-based Li Hongzhi, accusing him of seeking to overturn the regime. Interpol refuses to help with the warrant.

October 30: Anti-cult law passed, branding Falun Gong as an "evil cult", sparking a week of protests in Tiananmen Square.

November 12: First Falun Gong "show trials" end with four followers sentenced to between two and 12 years' prison. Hundreds of others sent to "re-education through labour" camps for three years.

December 26: Four senior figures in the group sentenced by a Beijing court to prison terms of seven to 18 years.

February 5, 2000: More than 1,000 followers protest in Tiananmen Square during the Lunar New Year.

February-March: Deaths in custody of 15 members disclosed. Dozens of detained members stage hunger strike.

April 19: Crackdown intensifies, State Council spokesman says a total of 84 Falun Gong supporters have been given jail terms.