In return Mr Straw, perhaps shaken by the extent of police bungling exposed by the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, has offered to consider a softening of the broad exclusion that he had won for police law-enforcement activities, at the time of the white paper.

ECONOMIST: Freedom of information

Mr Clarke was also questioned about reports that Mr Ashdown would have asked for "Jack Straw's head" in return for support in a coalition.

BBC: Minister attacks Lib Dem 'charlatans'

Recently, Jack Straw - then foreign secretary - said that a return to these islands was not "practical".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Court victory for Chagos families

When the family home she had been fighting to return to was condemned and torn down earlier this year, it was the final straw for Caserta.

CNN: Hero's work continues in parish devastated by Katrina

On the other hand, the British, whose foreign minister, Jack Straw, visited Mr Arafat on February 13th, still support the American line that a ceasefire must precede any return to talks.

ECONOMIST: Israel and the Palestinians