Military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has seized control in Fiji.

Commodore Bainimarama had repeatedly threatened to remove Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's elected government unless it dropped three pieces of controversial legislation, including a bill that would grant amnesty to those involved in a coup in 2000.

On November 13 he issued nine demands to the Qarase government which included the withdrawal of the bills.

At 6pm (7pm NZT) on December 5 he seized control, installed himself as President, sacked Qarase, named his own man as PM and sent soldiers onto the streets with police.

This is how events unfolded.

December 7

* Military-appointed Prime Minister Jona Senilagakali admits the coup is illegal but says as a member of the military he had to accept his position.

* Dr Senilagakali warns New Zealand and Australia not to interfere in Fiji's affairs

* Commodore Bainimarama sacks the Acting Commissioner of Police, Moses Driver, and his deputy - installing instead Army colonel Jim Koroi

December 6

* Fijian media is censored - some refuse to publish because of interference

* New Zealand, Australia, the United Nations, European Union, Commonwealth, United States and Britain all condemn the military takeover.

* Josefa Iloilo says the military action was illegal meaning that he is still president.

* The police refuse to follow military orders

* Prime Minister Qarase is flown out of Suva to his home island of Lau

* Soldiers surround the Police Tactical Response Unit headquarters and hold discussions with the Acting Police Commissioner Moses Driver

* Soldiers ask Fiji's Senate to adjourn its sitting and the House complies.

Parliament grounds are sealed off.

* Commodore Bainimarama swears in Dr Senilagakali as prime minister and replaces Acting Police Commissioner Moses Driver with an Army colonel

December 5

* Soldiers man checkpoints and guard roads around government offices and other key facilities in the Fijian capital.