7 May 2012

Samoa officials confirm one villager dead and three police wounded in shootout

3:41 pm on 7 May 2012

A man is dead and three police officers wounded after a shoot-out during a drug raid in the early hours this morning at Faleatiu village in Samoa near Apia.

The officers were taken to Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital, where one has serious injuries and the other two are recovering from moderate wounds.

Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says about 30 officers were involved in the operation, when they were fired on as they approached in their vehicles.

He says a man from the village was killed when police returned fire.

"Police have not received any confirmation of the death but sources from the village of Faleatiu have reported that one of the members of the family where the raid started at was killed as a result of the shoot out."

Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says the raid was ordered off but police investigations into the shootings are continuing.