However, many islanders want the government to fulfil a promise they say was made by Robin Cook, while foreign secretary, that they would beallowedto return to outlying islands in the Chagos group.
"The serious allegation is that they got it wrong, and they should not beallowedto get off answering that issue because Alastair has souped up this controversy, " said Cook, who quit the cabinet before the war began.