23 Mar 2004

Samoa's ruling party wins by-election to retain Fa'asaleleaga seat

12:20 pm on 23 March 2004

Samoa's ruling Human Rights Protection Party has won a by-election for the seat vacated by last January's death of the justice minister, Seumanu Aita Ah Wa.

The Fa'asaleleaga Number 1 seat was won by Ti'ata Pulufana who defeated three other candidates from his own party and one candidate from the opposition.

The result has left the HRPP with 31 seats in the 49-member parliament.

Commenting on the win, the prime minister Tuileapa Sailele says the opposition should hang up their boxing gloves.