King Malietoa Tanumafili II, one of the world's longest reigning monarchs, passed away at a hospital in Samoa, the prime minister's office said. He was 94.
Malietoa sat on the Samoan throne ever since the country, which lies west of the US territory of American Samoa, gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.
That made him the world's third longest reigning living monarch after Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has reigned since 1946 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952.
PHOTO: AP
The king died on Friday night at Tupua Tamasese National Hospital in Apia where he had been staying for about a week. Details on the cause of death were not immediately available.
Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, chief executive officer of the prime minister's office, announced the king's passing on Saturday on state-run television.
The king will lay in state in Apia, the capital, on Thursday. A church service, to be lead by the National Council of Churches, is planned for Friday morning, Komiti said.
In American Samoa, the governor said Malietoa's passing was a loss not only for Samoa but for the US territory.
"His faith and love for his people helped light the flame of independence for Samoa and maintained a peaceful transition for Samoa from her difficult beginning," Governor Togiola Tulafono said.
"He was an icon of Samoan leadership, Samoan democracy, and Samoan compassion," Tulafono said.
Many American Samoans considered the king to be the father of the two Samoas and he was a frequent visitor to the territory's annual Flag Day Festivities.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed her nation's sorrow at the death of Malietoa, noting he helped frame Samoa's Constitution prior to independence.
"Through his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humor and insight," she said in a statement.
Responsibility for Samoa was handed to New Zealand in 1917 by the then League of Nations, after the islands were seized from its colonial power, Germany, during World War I.
The king succeeded to the Malietoa title in 1940, when his father passed away. He was appointed an advisor to the New Zealand governor in Samoa the same year.
Malietoa was made the joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Meaole when Samoa gained independence from New Zealand in 1962 and he became sole head of state a year later when Tupua Tamasese passed away.
He held the post for life. His successor, however, will be elected by the legislature to a five year term as stipulated in the Samoan Constitution.
Malietoa was educated in Samoa at the government run Leififi School and attended St Stephens College and Wesley College in New Zealand.
Malietoa visited China on a state visit in 1976, and traveled to West Germany, South Korea, Japan and the UK. He also traveled to Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Hawaii, and also attended the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
He was among the foreign dignitaries that attended the funeral service of Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II visited Samoa on the Royal Yacht Britannia for one day and presented Malietoa with the Collar Badge and Star of the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
Malietoa is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife Lili Tunu passed away in 1986.
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