World Court hears Malaysia, Singapore isle dispute

The UN's highest court has started hearings into a dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over the sovereignty of three islands which lie close to key shipping lanes.

The two countries agreed in 2003 to refer their territorial dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after years of talks. They have a history of bickering over issues ranging from water supplies to transport links.

Both countries claim sovereignty over a chain of three rocky islets located strategically on the eastern entrance of the Singapore Strait, about 15km off peninsular Malaysia's southern coast.

The main rocky outcrop - 137 metres by 60 metres - is known as Pulau Batu Puteh in Malaysia and Pedra Branca in Singapore. The court will also determine the status of two other nearby islets known as Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

Singapore claims sovereignty of Pedra Branca as it is the successor to Britain, its former colonial ruler, which acquired sovereignty more than 100 years ago by building a lighthouse on the outcrop, lawyers for Singapore told the court.

"Singapore has for more than 150 years acted in a manner entirely consistent with sovereignty concerning Pedra Branca," Singapore's ambassador-at-large Tommy Koh told the court.

Malaysia, also a former British colony, will present its case from Nov. 13. The hearings will continue to Nov. 23.

The ICJ or the World Court was set up in 1946 to resolve disputes between states. Its rulings are final and cannot be appealed. The court usually takes several years to rule on border and territorial disputes.