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| South American states ban Falklands vessels from ports | South American states ban Falklands vessels from ports |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A South American trading bloc has agreed to close its ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag. | A South American trading bloc has agreed to close its ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag. |
| Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, came to the decision at a summit in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo. | Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, came to the decision at a summit in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo. |
| But Uruguayan President Jose Mujica also stated his country would never impose a maritime blockade of the British overseas territory. | But Uruguayan President Jose Mujica also stated his country would never impose a maritime blockade of the British overseas territory. |
| The UK has asked Uruguay, which proposed the move, to explain itself. | The UK has asked Uruguay, which proposed the move, to explain itself. |
| The Mercosur decision is the latest in a series by Latin American regional bodies designed to show solidarity with Argentina, which has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls Las Malvinas. | The Mercosur decision is the latest in a series by Latin American regional bodies designed to show solidarity with Argentina, which has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls Las Malvinas. |
| Britain has held them since the 1830s and says their future is not negotiable. The two countries fought a brief but bloody war over the islands in 1982. | Britain has held them since the 1830s and says their future is not negotiable. The two countries fought a brief but bloody war over the islands in 1982. |
| The Falklands flag is flown by 25 boats, mostly fishing vessels. | The Falklands flag is flown by 25 boats, mostly fishing vessels. |
| Mr Mujica said: "We hold nothing against the UK. But we have a lot in favour of Argentina." | Mr Mujica said: "We hold nothing against the UK. But we have a lot in favour of Argentina." |
| However, the president of the Falklands Chamber of Commerce, Roger Spink, told the BBC that they were a small community, and felt increasingly under blockade. | However, the president of the Falklands Chamber of Commerce, Roger Spink, told the BBC that they were a small community, and felt increasingly under blockade. |
| "If we were Palestine, the European Union would be up in arms," he said. | "If we were Palestine, the European Union would be up in arms," he said. |
| Last week the Foreign Office called on Uruguay's ambassador in London to explain the move. | Last week the Foreign Office called on Uruguay's ambassador in London to explain the move. |
| Oil exploration | Oil exploration |
| Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who took over the presidency of the trade bloc from Mr Mujica, thanked her fellow presidents for the show of support. | |
| Delivering a speech to the summit, she said: "I want to thank everyone for their immense solidarity with the Malvinas. | Delivering a speech to the summit, she said: "I want to thank everyone for their immense solidarity with the Malvinas. |
| "But you should know that when you are signing something on the Malvinas in favour of Argentina you are also doing it in your own defence. | "But you should know that when you are signing something on the Malvinas in favour of Argentina you are also doing it in your own defence. |
| "Malvinas is not an Argentine cause, it is a global cause, because in the Malvinas they are taking our oil and fishing resources. | "Malvinas is not an Argentine cause, it is a global cause, because in the Malvinas they are taking our oil and fishing resources. |
| "And when there is need for more resources, those who are strong are going to look for them wherever and however they can." | "And when there is need for more resources, those who are strong are going to look for them wherever and however they can." |
| British companies are exploring for oil in the waters surrounding the islands, which are 400 nautical miles from the Argentine coast. | British companies are exploring for oil in the waters surrounding the islands, which are 400 nautical miles from the Argentine coast. |