Those who live by the sword...

Former Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh's death marks the end of another autocrat deposed during the Arab Spring protests. HT takes a look at the leaders who faced the wrath of their countrymen during the tumultuous time

ZINE EL ABIDINE BEN ALI

WHAT HAPPENED: Tunisia was where it all began. In December 2010, the country's streets filled with demonstrations against Ben Ali — in power since a coup d’etat in 1987 — with the people protesting state oppression, inflation and unemployment

WHAT NEXT: He resigned and fled to Saudi Arabia. He and his wife were tried in absentia on charges of corruption, theft and unlawful possession of cash and jewellery and sentenced to 35 years

WHERE IS HE NOW: He still lives in Saudi Arabia, which has ignored requests for extradition

HOSNI MUBARAK

WHAT HAPPENED: His presidency, which began in October 1981, was marked with lack of freedom of speech, police brutality and massive corrution

WHAT NEXT: He stepped down in February 2011 following weeks of massive protests and a military crackdown that killed more than 800 protesters

WHERE IS HE NOW: He was tried on multiple charges and sentenced to life in prison. Later, his sentence was overturned before he was eventually acquitted

ALI ABDULLAH SALEH

WHAT HAPPENED: Earlier president of South Yemen, he oversaw the country's unification with North Yemen in 1990. In early 2011, protestors took to the street demanding he resign

WHAT NEXT: He stepped down, but the country broke into civil war soon after, with the Shia Houthi rebels attacking the Saudi-backed government. Saleh supported the Houthis

WHERE IS HE NOW: After abruptly pulling support from the Houthis and backing the Saudis, Saleh was killed by his erstwhile allies on December 4, 2017

BASHAR AL-ASSAD

WHAT HAPPENED: President since the death of his father in 2000, Assad started facing protests demanding democratic reforms, which he cracked down brutally

WHAT NEXT: A civil war broke out in Syria, followed by the rise of various insurgent and extremist groups, including the al-nusra Front and Islamic State. As of July 2017, an estimated 475,000 people have been killed and around 10 million have been displaced WHERE IS HE NOW: Assad remains president and lives in Damascus

MUAMMAR GADDAFI

WHAT HAPPENED: Coming into power after a coup d'état in 1969, Gaddafi was known for brutally oppressing his opponents, resulting in massive protests in February 2011

WHAT NEXT: After Gaddafi sent in the military to clamp down on the protests, the country sunk into a civil war that continues to this day WHERE IS HE NOW: He was killed by National Transitional Council fighters in Sirte on October 20, 2011