Chagos Islanders evicted from their homes by the British government 40 years ago staged a demonstration outside Downing Street today.
The exiled Chagossians handed over a letter demanding the Foreign Office halt its appeal against a ruling that would allow them to return to the Archipelago.
Some 2,000 residents of the British territory were removed in the 1960s and 70s when Britain leased the island of Diego Garcia to the US to use as a military base.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the exiled families have the right to go back to the island, but Ministers have applied to take the case to the House of Lords for a final decision.
Hengride Permal, of the Chagossian Islands Community Association said: "We want the government to pay us compensation for 40 years of pain and suffering, and 40 years of exile.
"We want Gordon Brown to take action and withdraw the appeal.
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