Samoan Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, is concerned that a war of words between himself and social media bloggers may turn ugly.
Samoa's PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ / Sela Jane Aholelei
A letter supposedly written to two former Samoan cabinet ministers convicted of the murder of their colleague, Luagalau Levaula Kamu, and allegedly signed by Tuilaepa, has been labelled a fake in a media release by the prime minister.
He said it was a threat to public security because when "one's reputation is slandered and defamed without just cause or proof, it will also impact the
pride and integrity of families and relatives which may provoke anything to happen".
Tuila'epa was quoted as saying that he had "been told that the 20-year-old letter was penned by a prisoner and it was proven at the time to be a fake".
The prime minister says this is the first time he has seen the letter and it is a forgery,.
In 2000 Leafa Vitale and Toi Aukuso were jailed for plotting the murder of cabinet colleague Luagalau the previous year.
Toi died while serving his sentence.