French court halts demolition of Mayotte migrant slum

A French court has halted the controversial clearance of a slum mainly housing illegal migrants on the Indian Ocean island territory of Mayotte.

Demolition had been due to begin on Tuesday.

The archipelago - one of France's overseas territories - has seen an influx of migrants, particularly from neighbouring Comoros.

Around 2,000 members of the French security forces had been deployed to Mayotte for the operation, sparking sporadic clashes around the main city of Mamoudzou.

The local administration has said it will appeal against the court ruling.