evidence: The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros vowed Friday not to accept migrants expelled from the neighbouring French island of Mayotte in a looming operation that has caused a diplomatic spat. [...] Mayotte and the three islands of the present-day Comoros were French territories until 1975. [...] But Mayotte voted to remain a French overseas territory and later became a French department -- a status rejected by the Comoros, which continues to claim the island.