Anger In Argentina As Wills Flies To Falklands

As Prince William begins his six-week tour of the Falkland islands, Argentina's vice-president has launched a furious tirade against the visit and there have been angry protests in the streets.

"London is after issues of big media impact to hide the daily sufferings of Britain with its problems of unemployment, shrinking economy, social unrest," said Amado Boudou, speaking to Argentina's La Red radio station.

He continued: "The bullying we are seeing is geared to distract UK public opinion. Really what we are experiencing is a serious lack of leadership in Europe."

Mr Boudou went on to accuse Britain of using the tension over the Falklands to distract from the issue of independence for Scotland and compensate for the coalition Government's "floundering support".

"Great Britain has always been the face of imperialism and colonialism around the world," the VP continued, adding that colonialism "is a shame that humanity has been carrying since the 17th century, and the Malvinas (Falklands) Islands are one of its last symbols".

In Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, a left-wing group targeted a branch of HSBC.

Members of the Quebrachos threw paint at the bank and spraypainted "Fuera Inglese de Malvinas (English out of the Falklands)" on its walls.

"This is in response to the presence in Argentinian territory of the pirate Prince William. What we are doing here is paying homage to those fallen in the Malvinas (Falklands) war, here at the cenotaph that commemorates them," said Quebrachos member Fernando Esteche, speaking to Euronews.

"From here we will call on to the entire Argentinian nation to join us, and we will develop our campaign to thwart that of the English."

Last month, demonstrators from another left-wing group protested at the British embassy, burning a Union flag and carrying banners reading "English out of the Malvinas" and "Government break off relations now".

Tensions over the disputed islands have been inflamed by the Duke of Cambridge's tour and Britain's decision to send one of its most advanced warships to the region.

HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, is due to set sail for the South Atlantic on her maiden mission in the coming months to replace frigate HMS Montrose.

There are fears that Argentina may force an economic blockade of the Falklands by preventing flights from the islands' capital, Port Stanley, to Punta Arenas in Chile flying over its airspace.

If this happens, flights will have to take a 6,000-mile diversion via the military air bridge at RAF Brize Norton in England.

William's posting has been similarly defended by the MoD as part of a "normal" squadron rotation, but it has been branded a "provocative act" by Argentina.

In the latest salvo, the country's foreign ministry said it "rejected the British attempt to militarise (the) conflict" and expressed regret that an heir to the throne would arrive wearing "the uniform of a conqueror".

David Cameron and Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez have previously accused each other of "colonial" behaviour, while Argentine official Sebastian Brugo Marco last year said the country could not ignore the "political" implications of William's deployment.