Malaysians demand apology over 1948 'massacre'

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Relatives of 24 Malaysian rubber tappers killed by British troops in 1948 on Wednesday demanded an apology after a London court said that Britain was responsible for their deaths.

They however expressed anger after the High Court judges on Tuesday upheld a government decision not to hold a public inquiry into the shootings.

Mr Quek Ngee Meng, lawyer for the campaigners who have been battling the case since 1993, said they would appeal against the latest court decision. Although the ruling appeared to give the families a strong case to sue for damages, Mr Quek said "compensation is not the point but a full acknowledgement of the fact".

"Family members of those killed are now pressing (British) ministers to accept the facts found by the court, take full responsibility for the massacre... and apologise," he added.