LONDON (AP) – The prime minister of Mauritius said yesterday that his country may quit the Commonwealth if that would help it to win the return of Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island used as a strategic military base by the United States.

Prime Minister Paul Berenger said his country was deeply reluctant to leave the 53-nation grouping of former British colonies, but will do so if it concludes such a move would improve its legal standing in the case.

Berenger said he does not oppose the presence of the American base on Diego Garcia. But Mauritius wants to take back sovereignty over the island and the rest of the Chagos archipelago from Britain so that the residents forced out more than 30 years ago can return.

“Leaving the Commonwealth … would break our hearts,” Berenger said after meeting with Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon in London.

But if there is no progress in talks with Britain over the issue, and if lawyers advise that quitting would improve Mauritius’ legal position, he said, “brokenheartedly … we will have to do it.”

Berenger said he was deeply upset over a recent move by Britain which sought to block Mauritius from taking court action for the return of the islands, which are 2,200 miles (3,520 kilometres) east of Africa and 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) southwest of India.

A long-standing British agreement with the International Court of Justice bars Commonwealth countries from taking Britain to the court.

Last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government said it had closed a loophole in that deal, amending it to prevent former Commonwealth members from taking legal action against their one-time coloniser.

“We are hurt, deeply hurt … in our prides and in our rights,” Berenger said.

In another move that angered Mauritius, Britain also said recently that it would maintain its strict control over immigration into the Chagos archipelago, whose residents it forced out between 1967 and 1973. Britain bars anyone from entering the islands for more than a brief visit.

Berenger did not specify how leaving the Commonwealth could help his country with its case, but said he would hold further talks with lawyers before deciding whether to quit.