'The Falklands are British...that's what the islanders chose'

Cleverly pledge as Argentina wants talks

- Robert Kellaway

JAMES Cleverly has insisted the Falklands are British after Argentina demanded talks on sovereignty.

The Foreign Secretary spoke after Buenos Aires pulled out of a co-operation pact set up to improve relations while allowing the two nations to disagree on ownership.

Mr Cleverly said: "The Falkland Islands are British. Islanders have the right to decide their own future, they have chosen to remain a self-governing UK Overseas Territory." The islands, 300 miles off the coast of South America, were fought over in 1982 when Britain - led by Margaret Thatcher - retook them following an invasion by Argentina.

Conflict