World court ruling on Caribbean islands dispute

(AP) World court ruling on Caribbean islands dispute
THE HAGUE, Netherlands
The International Court of Justice is ruling on a long-running dispute between Nicaragua and Colombia over ownership of islands in the western Caribbean and the maritime border between the countries.

Nicaragua first asked the world court, the United Nations’ highest judicial organ, to intervene in 2001, arguing that Colombia had no legal claim to the islands.

The court partially rejected that argument in 2007, saying a 1928 treaty between the two countries established that Colombia owned the islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina.

On Monday, the judges are ruling on other islands claimed by both countries in the San Andres archipelago and are expected to set a maritime border between the Colombian islands and Nicaragua.

International Court of Justice rulings are final and legally binding.