(AFP) The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today opened a round of public hearings to determine if the Philippines can intervene in a territorial dispute between neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to allow the ICJ to settle their dispute over the ownership of the islands of Pulau Litigan and Pulau Sipidan, situated off the coast of Sabah.

The Philippines fear that the proceedings before the court might have a bearing on the legal status of Sabah, to which Manila holds historic claims as well.

The Philippine ambassador to the Netherlands, Eloy R. Belo III, spoke first at the public hearings. He said that the countries before the court had a "common interest in the peaceful resolution of the dispute that divides us."

Michael Reisman, counsel for the Philippines, recalled that the court had denied Manila access to the submissions filed to the court by Malaysia and Indonesia.

Reisman asked the court to give Manila access to the documents submitted to determine if it indeed had legal interests that could be affected by the ruling of the court.

Malaysia is expected to cite its ownership of Sabah as the basis for its claim to the islands.

But the Philippines also lays claim to Sabah on the grounds that it was ruled by a southern Philippine sultanate in the 15th century.

Authorities in Manila believe a decision by the international court might affect the Philippines claim to Sabah, which is why they are seeking to intervene in the case.

Strained relationship

The Sabah question has been an irritant in ties between Manila and Kuala Lumpur ever since former Philippine president Diosdado Macapagal revived a claim to the state when it became independent and joined Malaysia in 1963.

The Philippines has never formally renounced its claim to Sabah, although officials in Manila have said they will not allow the dispute to disrupt bilateral relations.

Attempts by previous Philippine administrations to drop the Sabah claim have been shot down by the senate and relations between Kuala Lumpur and Manila have been broken off twice because of the row.

The hearings at the ICJ will last until Friday.