Chagos deal: UK deal handing Chagos Islands to Mauritius halted by last-minute legal action

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What is the last-minute legal action?published at 12:33 British Summer Time

Image caption,

Chagossians Bertice Pomp (centre, left) and Bernadette Dugasse (centre, right) arriving at the High Court this morning

The legal action was brought by two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who want to return to live on the islands.

Under both the current arrangement, and the proposed new deal, Chagossians are prevented from returning to Diego Garcia – the largest of the islands, and home to the UK-US military base.

Earlier this year, their lawyer Michael Polak said: “The government’s attempt to give away the Chagossians’ homeland whilst failing to hold a formal consultation with the Chagossian people is a continuation of their terrible treatment by the authorities in the past.

“They remain the people with the closest connection to the islands, but their needs and wishes are being ignored.”

A hearing on the case began shortly after 10:30 BST. As reported, the deal was halted at 02:25 this morning.