Former Fiji president

Nauru Chief Justice Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi dies

Reports say he died in Suva after a short illness.

Ratu Joni had been Nauru's chief justice for the past two years.

He had been Fiji's Vice President for two years until December 2006 when he was removed in the military coup led by Frank Bainimarama who then purported to be the president for several weeks.

Ratu Joni also served on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Solomon Islands set up in 2008 to deal with the aftermath of the ethnic tension.

Tonga's previous king made him a Lord.