Political rivals get ultimatum

Apia – Samoa’s Supreme Court yesterday ordered parliament to sit within seven days, effectively setting a deadline to end a power struggle that has gripped the island nation for months.

This follows almost three months of manoeuvring between rival claimants for Samoa’s prime ministership – lincumbent Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and opposition leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. Mata’afa claimed a slim majority in the election but Malielegaoi has called for a new poll. –