8:33am UK, Wednesday February 24, 2010

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

Tensions over British plans to drill for oil off the Falkland Islands continue to increase as Argentina’s foreign minister prepares to meet the UN secretary-general.

The Ocean Guardian is exploring oil in the Falklands as North Sea supplies decrease

Britain is under fire for allowing a Desire Petroleum rig to be towed 8,000 miles from Scotland to begin drilling 60 miles north of the islands.

Argentina claims the Falklands – known as Las Malvinas in Buenos Aires – are occupied by Britain illegally and has formally objected to Desire’s move to drill oil.

Argentina’s president has reiterated the country’s claim to sovereignty of the islands at a summit of 32 countries, hosted by Mexico.

In a rare show of unity, Latin American and Caribbean nations united to back Argentina.

Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez said the country would not try to keep the British boats or rigs out.

“We do not believe in methods like blockades,” she said.

“When, in these last few days, England decided to install an oil rig offshore and Argentina – in exercise of its domestic law – made decisions as a Sovereign State, the Foreign Office floated the idea of a potential war threat by Argentina.

“I would say that is ridiculous, cynical because few countries have shown more signs of peaceful intentions than Argentina after the advent of democracy.”

Desire said the well is being drilled to an estimated target depth of about 3,500 metres, and drilling operations are expected to take about 30 days.

The company said the rig is sitting “firmly inside UK waters”.

Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982, before a UK taskforce made up of some 100 ships seized them back in a war which claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen and women and more than 600 Argentinians.