Samoa has scored a major international success with its top lawyer, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, being elected as a judge at the new International Criminal Court.
The success came as Fiji's former chief justice, Sir Timoci Tuivaga, was forced to pull out during balloting.
His nomination caused outrage in Fiji because of his involvement in advising the military on martial law during the 2000 coup.
61-year old Tuiloma is currently Samoa's UN ambassador and ambassador to the United States.
Judges are to be sworn in during an inaugural ceremony on March the 11th in The Hague.
