2014: Failed peace attempts and presidential election
January: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convenes the first round of peace talks in Geneva involving the Syrian government and Syrian National Coalition.
February:A second round of the Geneva talks is held; representatives of governm
Islamic State group fighters held a parade to celebrate their declaration of a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and Syria[Reuters]
ent and opposition fail to agree on agenda; Joint Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi apologises to the Syrian people for lack of progress in the talks. He resigns in May.
June: Syria holds a presidential election in government-held areas. More than one person could stand as a presidential candidate for the first time since the Assad family came to power more four decades ago.
The establishment of a new "caliphate" was announced by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi named as caliph. The group formally changed its name to "Islamic State".
July: The UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on Syria allowing aid convoys to go into rebel-held areas without government approval.