KEY POINTS:
A Samoan teenage girl who suffered severe burns after a petrol bomb was thrown at her will be brought to New Zealand to get treatment.
Francella Tuala was standing at a bus stop in the city centre of Apia last Friday when a brawl between two rival boys' high schools broke out.
The 17-year-old was hit when Don Bosco College students travelling in a car hurled the bomb at an Avele College student - but missed, hitting Miss Tuala instead and setting her alight.
The teenager suffered severe burns to her face and upper body and will today arrive at Auckland's Middlemore hospital to have surgery - after her family appealed to the Samoan Government to bring her. There is no burns unit at the national hospital in Moto'otua.
General manager of Samoa National Services Dr Stanley Dean said because her face has been affected, outside treatment is needed.
"Her nose, face and chest are all scarred. If it was another type of burn, we would be able to help.
"But because it involves the face, plastic surgery might be needed and we can't do that."
Dr Dean said assessments would be done in New Zealand and depending on the result, Miss Tuala could be in hospital for up to two months.
"I've spoken to her and it's very hard for her. She doesn't talk much because she's depressed.
"She was a beautiful girl and now she'll be scarred for life," he said.
Two of Miss Tuala's friends were also treated for burns, after they helped put the flames out, by embracing her.
The high school brawl, which happened at the city market, is said to have erupted after an inter-school rugby tournament brought on-field rivalry to another level.
Don Bosco College students claimed they had come armed with weapons, including stones and petrol bombs, to get back at Avele students, who allegedly burned a Don Bosco school uniform in town.
Several students, members of the public and police officers were injured and were taken to Moto'otua hospital, while shops and vehicles were also damaged during the riot.
Avele students return to school today, after it was shut on Monday, because of last week's events. Samoan cabinet ministers yesterday met to discuss whether or not the inter-school rugby tournament will be terminated, as rivalry had reached worrying levels.
Local police are holding 21 students and one teacher from Don Bosco College in connection with the incident, but are yet to identify the person who threw the petrol bomb at Miss Tuala, deputy police commissioner Papali'i Li'o Masipa'u said.
"It's [school rivalry] become really bad," Mr Masipa'u said.
