DAKAR, Sept 23, 2008 (AFP) - The families of victims of Senegal's 'Joola' ferry disaster, Africa's worst maritime accident, on Tuesday hailed a French judge for issuing international arrest warrants for nine Senegalese officials.

'The Senegalese justice system did not have the courage to go right up to the end,' said Nassardine Aidara from an umbrella grouping called the Initiative Committee to Build a Joola Memorial Museum.

Aidara said the French judge had 'done his work,' adding that the 'simple fact that he has issued these warrants is a victory for us all.'

'We back him fully,' he added.

Among the officials targeted over the accident, which left 1,863 people dead including 22 French nationals, are Senegalese former prime minister Mame Madior Boye.

Licensed to carry 550 people, the ship had 1,927 passengers on board when it sank.

Only 64 people survived the accident which claimed more lives than the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, in which 1,563 died.

Among those on board were students, school children and artists from around Senegal as well as nationals from elsewhere in Africa and Europe.

A judge from the Paris suburb of Evry issued the arrest warrants on September 12, drawing a trenchant reaction from the Senegalese government which has asked for the warrants to be revoked and threatened 'reciprocal' measures.