Argentina says it will bring a formal complaint to the United Nations against Britain over what it termed the renewed militarization of the Falkland Islands.

Britain and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982 and tensions between the countries have risen in recent weeks ahead of the 30th anniversary of the conflict. Britain has held the Falklands since 1833.

Britain "is once again in the process of militarizing the south Atlantic," said Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, referring to a decision by the UK government to deploy a warship to the region and dispatch Prince William for a tour of duty as a helicopter pilot.

"We cannot interpret in any other way the deployment of an ultra-modern destroyer accompanying the heir to the throne, who we would prefer to see in civilian attire," Kirchner told a group of politicians and Falklands war veterans.

"We will present a complaint to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as this militarization poses a grave danger to international security,"

Hundreds of protesters rallied near the government palace where Kirchner was speaking, waving Argentine flags and shouting: "Malvinas! They belong to us!" referring to the islands as they are known in Spanish.

Britain had previously described the decision to send its warship to the Falklands as "routine," according to national broadcaster BBC.

dfm/ai (AFP, AP)