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Summit 'backs claim on Falklands' Leaders 'back claim on Falklands'
(about 3 hours later)
Latin American and Caribbean leaders have come to an agreement supporting Argentina over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, reports say. Latin American and Caribbean leaders have backed Argentina's claim over the Falklands, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said.
The leaders are to approve a document supporting Argentina in its territorial dispute with the British government. At a regional summit in Cancun, Mexico, a document has reportedly been drafted giving Argentina unanimous support.
No official statement has been made but it is thought the document was drawn up behind closed doors at a regional summit in Cancun in Mexico. It comes a day after a British oil rig began drilling for oil off the islands, a move Argentina formally objected to.
The announcement comes as a British rig began drilling for oil off the islands. Britain's defence minister said the UK government would take whatever steps necessary to protect the Falklands.
According to reports from Cancun, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner says her government has won the backing of other regional leaders in its dispute with the UK over the territory in the South Atlantic. Argentina and Britain went to war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded the archipelago.
The Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, is reported to have said that a document has been drawn up behind closed doors giving Argentina unanimous support. The conflict ended with UK forces wresting back control of the islands, held by Britain since 1833.
No official statement has been made in Cancun, but Mexican President Felipe Calderon reportedly said a document had been drawn up offering Buenos Aires full support in its territorial dispute with London.
The Ocean Guardian is in Falkland Islands waters
The Argentine president accused the British government of ignoring international law by allowing a British oil exploration company to begin drilling near the islands.
She said: "I think the important thing is that we have achieved very strong support, something that legitimates our claims fundamentally against the new petroleum activity."
The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Cancun says that any broad agreement at the summit could put more pressure on the British government in what has become an escalating diplomatic row.The BBC's Andy Gallacher in Cancun says that any broad agreement at the summit could put more pressure on the British government in what has become an escalating diplomatic row.
'Return the Malvinas'
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reiterated his support for Argentina.
"We demand, and I think all of us should do the same, the withdrawal of the submarine platform, and that the English government... give that land back," he said.
Before leaving for the summit, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega called for "Britain to return the territory of the Malvinas to its real owners - to return it to Argentina" on Venezuelan Telesur television.
Leaders at the summit, between the Rio Group and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), are also said to have discussed plans for a new pan-American alliance which would exclude Canada and the United States.Leaders at the summit, between the Rio Group and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), are also said to have discussed plans for a new pan-American alliance which would exclude Canada and the United States.
The new grouping would serve as an alternative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years. The new grouping would serve as an alternative to the Organisation of American States, the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years.
"It's time to realise the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean," said Mr Calderon, asking the attending leaders and foreign ministers to put aside their political differences. The British rig Ocean Guardian began drilling 100km (62 miles) north of the Falklands on Monday, despite fierce opposition from Argentina.
The Ocean Guardian is in Falkland Islands waters
'Legitimate right'
The British rig, The Ocean Guardian, 100km (62 miles) north of the Falklands, started drilling on Monday, despite fierce opposition from Argentina.
Desire Petroleum, which is carrying out the drilling, said operations had started on the Liz 14/19-A exploration well at 1415 GMT.Desire Petroleum, which is carrying out the drilling, said operations had started on the Liz 14/19-A exploration well at 1415 GMT.
Argentina claims sovereignty over what it calls the Islas Malvinas and has imposed shipping restrictions.Argentina claims sovereignty over what it calls the Islas Malvinas and has imposed shipping restrictions.
But UK Defence Minister Bill Rammell said the government had a "legitimate right" to build an oil industry in its waters.But UK Defence Minister Bill Rammell said the government had a "legitimate right" to build an oil industry in its waters.
Mr Rammell said the UK would take "whatever steps [were] necessary" to protect the islands and that it had made Argentina "aware of that". Mr Rammell said the UK would take "whatever steps necessary" to protect the islands and that it had made Argentina "aware of that".
Argentina is already assured of support from President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who said Britain was being irrational and had to realise the "time for empires was over". Argentina has ruled out military action and is trying to pressure Britain into negotiations on sovereignty.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has called for "Britain to return the territory of the Malvinas to its real owners - to return it to Argentina" on Venezuelan Telesur television. During the seven-week war in 1982 over the Falklands, 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel were killed.
Argentina has long claimed the islands. It invaded the Falklands in 1982, before a UK taskforce seized back control in a short war that claimed the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel.
But it has ruled out military action and is trying to pressure Britain into negotiations on sovereignty.
Last year Argentina submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by the UK.Last year Argentina submitted a claim to the United Nations for a vast expanse of ocean, based on research into the extent of the continental shelf, stretching to the Antarctic and including the island chains governed by the UK.
It is due to raise the issue at the UN later this week.It is due to raise the issue at the UN later this week.