Police in Samoa are reportedly investigating threats to shoot the prime minister and chief justice.
The Samoa Observer newspaper says the threats against Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Chief Justice Patu Falefatu Sapolu emerged early last month but were not made public after requests from Tuilaepa and the police.
It says Tuilaepa was concerned the threats could be linked to the 1999 shooting of government minister Luagalau Levaula Kamu.
Before leaving Samoa for New Zealand and Mexico, Tuilaepa said he was taking it seriously and asked police to investigate.
Two former government ministers, Leafa Vitale and Toi Aukuso, were convicted in 2000 of contracting the killing of Luagalau, hiring one of Vitale's sons as the hitman.