Tokyo - Thousands of former British prisoners of war were dealt a blow early today when a Japanese court rejected their claim for compensation for the suffering inflicted in prison camps.
A court in Tokyo gave its ruling in a case brought by seven former prisoners from Britain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, who claimed they were entitled to £13,500 compensation each.
Had it been successful their legal claim, which was begun in January 1995, would have cost the Japanese government about £290 million.