10 February 2012 Last updated at 12:06 ET
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called on Argentina and the UK to avoid an "escalation" in tensions over the disputed Falkland Islands.

His appeal came as Argentina's foreign minister made an official complaint to the UN about the UK's "militarisation" in the South Atlantic.

Last month the UK said it was sending one of its newest Royal Navy destroyers to the region.

The two countries went to war in 1982 over the British overseas territory.

Mr Ban's office said in a stastement that the UN chief had "expressed the hope that the governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom will avoid an escalation of this dispute and resolve differences peacefully and through dialogue".

The UK says it is only carrying out routine operations in the South Atlantic, off Argentina's west coast.

The status of the islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, is still a highly sensitive issue for Buenos Aires.

In December, Mercosur, a South American trading bloc, closed its ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag.



Article Source : BBC News

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