Stop trying to intimidate Falklanders, UK tells Argentina

LONDON: Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague on Saturday told Argentina to stop trying to intimidate the inhabitants of the Falklands, amid a war of words 30 years after the disputed islands sparked a real war.

"If it (Argentina) is genuinely interested in progress it should stop these attempts to intimidate a civilian population," Hague said in comments carried by The Times.

Buenos Aires "should agree to discuss how, as democracies, the Falklands, Britain and Argentina can work together in the South Atlantic neighbourhood in our common interest," he added.

The strong words were the latest exchange in a long dispute over the Falklands, internally self-governing islands located 400 nautical miles from Argentina.

They have been held by Britain since 1833 but are still claimed by Argentina, where they are known as the Malvinas, despite its defeat in the 74-day war fought between the two countries in 1982. (AFP)