JAKARTA - Indonesia said today it was "deeply disappointed" with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling which granted ownership of two islands in the Sulawesi Sea to Malaysia.

The ICJ in the Hague ruled earlier today that Malaysia should have the ownership of Sipadan and Ligitan islands.

"It is almost unavoidable not to be deeply disappointed by knowing that maximum efforts by four Indonesian governments since 1997 did not bear fruit as we had expected," Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda told a press briefing.

But Wirayudha said Indonesia was "obliged to respect" the ICJ decision which he deemed was carried out through a "fair, transparent, responsible and dignified" process.

The islands off the coast of Malaysia's Sabah state and Indonesia's East Kalimantan province have been claimed by the two countries in a dispute dating back more than three decades.

The court ruled that neither Indonesia nor Malaysia had a title-based claim to the tiny islands, recognised as one of the best diving areas in Southeast Asia.

Wirayuda said the court ruling was based on the "principle of effective occupation" by Malaysia by using British-issued ordinances which control the operation of lighthouses on both islands and other matters.

"We are disappointed but we've done our best to win this case," the minister said, adding the ruling will not hamper ties between both countries. — AFP