Long-serving Samoan monarch dies at 94

Pago Pago, American Samoa: 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.

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That made him the world's third longest reining 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.

Details on the cause of death were not immediately available.