BUENOS AIRES: Argentine police fired tear gas and used water cannon on Tuesday to break up a protest by veterans who were mobilized during the Falklands War in 1982 but were not deployed to the islands.
Security forces acted when the former soldiers, wearing military uniforms and carrying sticks and shields, charged into a line of riot police in the capital Buenos Aires.
"We want to be paid, to be recognized," one of the protesters said.
The veterans are part of a group that was mobilized during the war with Britain from April 2 to June 14, 1982, but were not deployed to the Falklands, sent instead to Patagonia. They claim they receive no pension despite their service during the war.
With the 30th anniversary of the conflict approaching, the question of sovereignty over the British-held islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, is getting increased attention.
Argentina has lodged a protest at the United Nations against Britain's "militarization" of the disputed islands.
Britain has dismissed the issue saying it would not negotiate and that the UN charter backed its position.
Britain has held the islands, home to about 3,000 inhabitants, since 1833.
Argentina has in recent weeks denounced the deployment of a British warship to the south Atlantic and the dispatch of Prince William, second in line to the throne, for a tour of duty as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
It has been backed in its position by neighboring Latin American nations which have agreed to close their ports to any ships flying the Falklands flag.
The 74-day war cost the lives of 649 Argentine troops, 255 British troops and three Falkland Islanders, but Britain retained control.
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