Argentina goes to UN over Falklands oil training brawl

Argentina will go to the United Nations today to protest over British oil exploration near the Falkland Islands.

The country"s foreign minister is to meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today as tensions rose over the disputed territory.

Jorge Taiana will meet Mr Ban at 3.30pm New York time (8.30pm British time), the office of the spokesman for the Secretary-General said.

Dispute: Desire Petroleum began drilling for oil near the Falkland Islands on Monday

The Argentinian foreign minister requested the meeting.

Meanwhile Argentina"s president spoke out at a regional summit,reiterating the country"s sovereignty claim to the islands and blamingthe Foreign Office for adding to tensions.

The moves follow support from a summit of Central and South Americancountries over the rig"s work 60 miles north of the islands.

The 32-strong Rio Group agreed to support "the legitimate rights of the republic of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute with Great Britain".

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"Argentina is not alone": Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez delivered a stern warning to Britain at the Rio Group summit in Mexico

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez later sent a direct message to Buckingham Palace.

In his weekly broadcast, he said: "Queen of England, I"m talkingto you. The time for empires is over, haven"t you noticed? Return theMalvinas to the Argentine people."

Referring to the Falklands war of 1982, when the islands wererecaptured after an Argentine invasion, he warned: "If conflict breaksout, be sure Argentina will not be alone like it was back then."

Cuban president Raul Castro also pledged support, saying: "Cuba has always backed Argentina"s justified claims to the Islas Malvinas.

Protest: Aregntinians have made clear their anger over the latest tensions in the Falklands

"Today we firmly support the legitimate rights of our sister nation over her natural resources."

The Falklands have no proven onshore reserves, but oil companiesbelieve there are offshore fields holding billions of recoverablebarrels of oil.

The Desire Petroleum company began exploratory drilling on Monday.

In London, Foreign Secretary David Miliband again rejected the Argentine claims, insisting: "British sovereignty in respect of the Falklands is absolutely clear in international law. There is no question about it.

"The exploration is also fully within international law."

Mr Miliband said Falkland islanders had the right to build their own economic future.