Fiji's new Attorney General claims the military takeover last month was not a coup.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum says the military intervention was legal, because it fell within the scope of a doctrine of necessity.
Mr Sayed-Khayum says when the president accepted executive authority back he stated he would have removed the Qarase government himself had he been able.
"You've got to ask whether it was in fact a coup. If you look at common law and constitutional law, there is the issue of doctrine of necessity. In carying out the necessary intervention, the commander referred to case law and constitutional law in justifying the intervention."
Mr Sayed-Khayum says there's nothing unconstitutional about the president granting immunity to those involved in the events of December 5th.
He says it can't be compared to the 2000 coup, where hostages were taken and there was a blatant grab for power.