15 Aug 2008

Marshall Islanders go to US court of Appeal over nuclear testing

3:44 am on 15 August 2008

Bikini Islanders in the Marshall Islands hope their case for additional compensation for damage caused US nuclear weapons tests will yield results.

Their quest to be given more money has been revived in a new round of litigation in the US court of appeal, with a ruling expected in the next few months.

The US maintains that the issue has been settled in previous agreements.

A Bikini Island Council representative Jack Niedenthal says if their legal bid fails, they may have to approach US politicians.

"The only hope we have is going back to the US Congress and asking them to help us, there's nothing forcing them to help us so it's sort of like banging a tin cup and it's not a very good feeling to be doing that."

Jack Niedenthal of the Bikini Island Council.