Palau approves huge Pacific marine sanctuary

Tiny archipelago seeks to create world's sixth-largest area to be fully protected from fishing or drilling

The tiny western Pacific archipelago of Palau has approved the creation of a marine sanctuary twice the size of Mexico.

Conservationists said the 500,000 sq km (193,000 sq mile) sanctuary would be the world's sixth-largest fully protected area - meaning no fishing, or other uses such as drilling for oil - if it is signed into law by Palau's president as expected on Monday.