Argentina demands UK halts military exercise in disputed Falklands
BUENOS AIRES- Argentina complained on Friday about military exercises that Britain is planning this month in the disputed Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
Argentina has for decades claimed sovereignty over the British-run islands it calls the Malvinas and the dispute led to a brief war in 1982. The overwhelming majority of the islands' 3,000 inhabitants say they want the islands to remain a British overseas territory.
Argentina's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had sent a letter to the British ambassador demanding the country call off the "illegitimate" exercises, which are scheduled for Oct. 19-28 and include the launching of Rapier missiles.
A spokeswoman for the British embassy in Buenos Aires called it a "routine exercise" that takes places about twice a year.
