Fiji's military chief Frank Bainimarama said on Tuesday the army had taken over the country, plunging the South Pacific nation into its fourth coup in 20 year.
Here are five facts on Bainimarama's life and career:
Born in the capital, Suva, on April 27, 1954, Josaia Voreque Bainimarama, known as Frank, started his military career when he enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman in July 1975.
He has two decades of overseas experience - training with the New Zealand Air Force in 1981, the US Coast Guard in 1983, and serving as a Lieutenant Commander with multinational forces in Sinai in 1986. He underwent further military training in Malaysia and Australia in the 1990s.
Appointed Commander of the Fiji Navy in October 1988, Bainimarama rose through the ranks to became Chief of Staff of Fiji's Military Forces in October 1997. He was promoted to his current position as overall Commander in 1999.
The 52-year made his first major mark on Fijian politics as head of a post-coup Interim Military Government from May to July 2000. Later instrumental in the rise of Prime Minister Qarase, he criticised the government for being too lenient with coup plotters, and first threatened to overthrow Qarase in July 2005.
A staunch Christian church-goer, Bainimarama and his wife Maria
Makitalena have six children and four grandchildren. His interests
include military history, current affairs, rugby union and
athletics, and he is president of the Fiji Rugby Union.
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