Argentina demands UK halts military exercise in Falklands

Argentina has lodged a formal letter of complaint against British plans to hold military exercises in the disputed Falkland Islands.

The country's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had sent the note to the British ambassador demanding the UK calls off the "illegitimate" exercises, which are scheduled from 19-28 October and include the launching of Rapier missiles.

But a spokeswoman for the British embassy in Buenos Aires called it a "routine exercise" that takes places about twice a year.

Argentina has for decades claimed sovereignty over the British-run islands it calls the Malvinas and the dispute led to a brief war in 1982.

The conflict killed 649 Argentinian soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three islanders.

The overwhelming majority of the islands' 3,000 inhabitants say they want the islands to remain a UK overseas territory.

In a 2013 referendum, residents voted overwhelmingly to remain part of Britain.

Pro-business President Mauricio Macri has tried to improve relations since taking over in December after diplomatic tensions mounted under his predecessor Cristina Fernandez.

Last month, the two sides held talks in London, culminating in a series of deals covering oil, fishing, navigation and trade in and around the islands.