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Argentina action on Falklands drilling

ARGENTINA'S minister for the Falklands has claimed his country "harbours not the least desire to use force" to regain the islands as it started legal action against companies drilling for oil and gas nearby. Daniel Filmus, Buenos Aires's minister for the Malvinas, as it refers to the islands, gave a speech in London in which he said Argentina was "forced to resort to defensive measures" to protect its natural resources.

He confirmed that three British firms - Premier Oil, Rockhopper Exploration and Falkland Oil & Gas - as well as Edison International and Noble Energy were being targeted by the legal action. British foreign secretary Philip Hammond responded to news of the legal claim by accusing Argentina of bullying.

Speaking at Canning House in central London, Mr Filmus said the natural resources around the Falklands "belong to 44 million Argentines".