Samoa's Tuilaepa told to handover power

Samoa's incoming leader has condemned the actions of the former government and demanded it hand overpower.

Radio NZ reports Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, speaking formally as the country's elected prime minister, slammed the behaviour Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Human Rights Protection Party.

Fiame's FAST party, which won the most seats in last month's election, and the previous ruling party, HRPP, are waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on several contentious issues.

Speaking in a broadcast from FAST headquarters she said MPs and officials must move from their roles and offices and allow the public service to focus on its work in a business-like and orderly way.

She warned the 25 HRPP MPs they must take steps to have themselves sworn in or risk being forced into by-elections.

Fiame also said the recent attacks on the judiciary by the caretaker prime minister, Tuilaepa, and some government officials, had severely undermined the rule of law.

She has also praised the previous achievements of Tuilaepa.

She said his legacy was a remarkable one, both nationally and internationally, for which the country is grateful, but it was being undermined by Tuilaepa's recent actions.

[Source: RNZ]