Mauritius may relent on US base in Diego Garcia.

: Mauritius may drop its objection to the presence of a US base in Diego Garcia in return for recognition of its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.

The issue came up for discussion when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and visiting Mauritius deputy prime minister Paul Raymond Berenger met here on Friday, with Berenger thanking Vajpayee for his excellent advice.

Berenger said the deadlock had been broken after Britain lost a court suit in London, following which it altered the legislation to allow visits by the original inhabitants and the crew of fishing vessels. Addressing a press conference, Berenger said there had been a sea- change in the …