BUENOS AIRES — Argentina accused on Thursday Britain of doing “an unilateral act of aggression and subduing” by deciding the hydrocarbon exploration in the north of the disputed Malvinas (Forkland) Islands.

Argentina Foreign Vice Minister Victorio Tacceti made accusation in a report given to the Commission of Foreign Affairs of the Deputy Chamber about the Presidential decree issued on Tuesday concerning maritime transit to the Malvinas (Forkland) Islands.

On Tuesday, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez signed a decree limiting maritime transit between the continental territory and the island in the Argentine sea.

This decree was issued after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his government had done all the necessary procedures to assure the people of the Falkland (Mavlinas) were protected of possible Argentine hostile actions.

According to Tacceti, the decree was signed in reply to “an unilateral act of aggression and subduing” by Britain.

Tacceti urged Britain to “sit down to negotiate at the international organization” about the territorial sovereignty of the archipelago.

“There is a big consensus at the international community” for both countries “to sit down and negotiate,” Tacceti said.

Argentina and Britain fought a war in 1982 for sovereignty over the Malvinas (Forkland) Islands that both countries claim. In the 1982 war, 649 Argentine soldiers and 254 British soldiers died.

Editor: Lin Zhi