Demolition of shantytown on French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte begins

Diggers move in as police and gendarmes launch operation against sub-standard housing and illegal migration

Authorities on the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte have begun demolishing homes in an operation against sub-standard housing and illegal migration

France has deployed hundreds of police officers and gendarmes in Mayotte - the country's poorest department - since April to prepare a major security measure called Operation Wuambushu (Take Back" in the local language).