[TIMELINE] Obama's efforts to speak to Muslims

On Thursday June 04 President Barack Obama arrived in the Egyptian capital of Cairo to deliver a landmark speech to mend America's rift with the Muslim world.

Following is a timeline of events that led up to the president's speech.

May

May 28 - Obama meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington

May 26 - The White House announces that Obama will visit Saudi Arabia on June 3 before delivering a speech to the Islamic world from Egypt on June 4

May 21 - Obama vows not to back down on closing Guantanamo Bay

May 21 - Obama signs a civilian nuclear deal with the United Arab Emirates worth billions of dollars

May 18- Obama meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washin gton

May 8 - The White House announces that Obama will give his long-awaited speech to the Islamic world on June 4 from Egypt

May 8 - Obama renews sanctions against Syria due to "serious concerns" over its behavior

May 7 - Obama meets Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari in Washington

April

Apr. 30 - Obama marks his 100th day in office

Apr. 16 - Obama releases four memos that were written by Bush administration's officials to justify CIA interrogations of terror suspects

Apr. 10 - Obama asks the U.S. Congress for an extra $83.4 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year

Apr. 7 - Obama makes a surprise visit to Iraq

Apr. 6 - Obama addresses the Turkish parliament during his first visit to a Muslim nation

Apr. 3 - Obama warns Europe that its should not expect the U.S. to fight global terrorism alone

March

March 13 - Obama extends sanctions against Iran imposed in 1995

February

Feb. 27 - Obama announces he would withdraw U.S. combat forces from Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010

Feb. 25 - Obama says the U.S. has opened a new era of diplomatic engagement, vowing to seek peace in the Middle East

Feb. 18 - Obama approves the deployment of 17,000 more troops in Afghanistan

January

Jan. 27 - Obama gives his first interview as president exclusivly to pan-Arab station Al Arabiya TV.

Jan. 20 - Obama is sworn in as the first black and 44th president of the United States

Jan. 6 - Obama breaks his silence on Israel's assault of Gaza and says he is "deeply concerned" about the loss of civilian lives in both Gaza and Israel

2008 November

Nov. 5 - Democrat Barack Obama makes history and becomes the first black man to be elected as president of the United States