France court suspends burkini ban

Paris, Aug 26  France's highest administrative court on Friday suspended a ban on full-body burkini swimsuits that has outraged Muslims and opened divisions within the government, pending a definitive ruling, the court said in a statement.

The Conseil d'Etat gave the ruling following a request from the League of Human Rights to overturn the burkini ban in the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve-Loubet on the grounds it contravenes civil liberties, The Mirror reported.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy controversially labelled the swimwear, worn by some Muslim women to cover the hair and face, a "provocation" earlier this week.