Kyrgyzstan's opposition supporters have seized government buildings and state television in the capital, Bishkek, reportedly forcing President Askar Akayevand his family out of the country. The political upheaval was triggered by disputed parliamentary elections in the mountainous Central Asian country of 5 million. Following is a chronology of major events since the poll:

-- Feb. 27: Kyrgyzstan holds the first round of parliamentary elections. According to the constitution and electoral law, a unicameral parliament replaces the two-chamber legislature after the elections, where 75 seats are to be filled directly from 75 constituencies in the former Soviet republic. Thirty-two legislators are selected in the first round.

-- March 13: Another 39 legislators are selected. The electoralcommission validates selections to the 71 legislators, of whom 30 are pro-government and 10 from the anti-government camp.

-- March 14-17: The opposition refuses to accept election results. In the southern cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad, supporters of the opposition take to the streets, demanding a revote.

-- March 18: Opposition supporters take control of government buildings in Osh and Jalal-Abad.

-- March 20: Tension between the government and the opposition escalates as the police are called in to disperse the protesters. The protesters storm government buildings, demanding Akayev's resignation.

-- March 22: Akayev calls an emergency session, also the first session, of the newly-selected parliament and asks legislators to assess the situation in the south. Opposition legislators boycott the session.

-- March 23: Akayev sacks his interior minister and the generalprosecutor but gives no reason for his decision. The situation in the south is still chaotic and some local officials are even takenhostage by protesters.

-- March 24: The Supreme Court declares parliamentary electionsinvalid. The parliament appoints Ishenbai Kadyrbekov as interim president. The Coordinating Council of National Unity, headed by opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev, is authorized to be in chargeof administrative agencies.

-- March 25: The parliament appoints Bakiyev as acting president and prime minister.

Source: Xinhua