Paris - The European Union was one island richer Sunday after the mostly Muslim citizens of the Mayotte islands in the Indian Ocean voted for full integration into the French nation.

The 374-square-kilometre island group is geographically part of the Comoros islands, between Madagascar and northern Mozambique.

But it has been politically separate since the 1970s, when it voted against independence. It has belonged to France since 1841

According to first results, 95 per cent of the voters backed joining France as a department. An estimated 186,450 people live in Mayotte. About one-third are foreigners or refugees. An estimated 71,000 were entitled to vote.

"This is a historic moment for Mayotte and the Mayottes," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. (dpa)