Samoan Head of State suspends parliament sitting

Samoa has been thrown into a constitutional crisis after the Head of State suspended Parliament's scheduled Monday sitting in a shock last-minute move moments ago.

In a statement, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, announced that he was suspending Parliament "pursuant to his constitutional authority".

The Samoan Observer reports the Head of State did not give any reasons for the suspension but said he would make his justification known in due course.

The decision comes after the Head of State had issued calls for a fresh election to be held last Friday; a move that was quashed by a panel of justices in the Supreme Court.

Earlier this week he met twice with the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T) party, which triumphed with a slim majority after the 9th April election.

The proclamation apparently brings the Head of State's authority into conflict with a constitutional provision requiring that Parliament convenes within 45 days of a national election being held.

[Source: Samoan Observer]