Drilling for oil begins off the Falkland Islands

A British rig has begun drilling for oil in the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands, despite strong opposition from Argentina. The platform has been towed to a point 100km (62 miles) north of the UK territory in the South Atlantic. Argentina claims sovereignty over what it calls the Islas Malvinas and has imposed shipping restrictions. UK Defence Minister Bill Rammell said the government had a “legitimate right” to build an oil industry in its waters.