ROUNDUP; Falkland conflict remembered in Britain, Argentina

Jun 14, 2007, 21:03 GMT

London - Commemorations to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of the Falkland Islands conflict between Britain and Argentina were held in Britain Thursday, attended by Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Blair and former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

The Falkland Islands, in the South Atlantic off the shores of Argentina, were 'liberated' by British forces on June 14, 1982, two- and-a-half months after they had been invaded by Argentina.

A total of 255 British servicemen and more than 650 Argentines were killed in the conflict.

Thursday's service at the Falklands Memorial Chapel in Pangbourne, outside London, was attended by veterans, military leaders and relatives of the British war victims.

For many, the church service offered an opportunity to remember the 150 British war dead in Iraq, and those who have died in Afghanistan, commentators aid.

Moments before the Service of Thanksgiving began, four Harrier jets performed a flypast above the chapel.

Thatcher, 81, who despatched a British task force to the islands in 1982, said in a radio address Wednesday that the war had been justified and sacrifices were made for a 'noble cause.'

Argentinian President Nestor Kirchner refuted her claim, saying the British victory was 'unacceptable in the eyes of the world and resulted in a huge massacre of young Argentinian soldiers and officers.'

The hardline Peronist leader vowed Thursday that Thatcher may have won the battle, but 'we will win the war for justice.' Argentina still claims the islands for its own, although the British have been there since 1833. Britain says it would cede independence to the islands if the 2,000 residents so voted.

At the time of the war in 1982, Buenos Aires challenge to Britain was intended to unify a badly split Argentinian nation, which drafted and sent thousands of unprepared and untrained young men into battle. The defeat was the final blow for the Argentinian military regime and led the way to open elections in the South American Country.

Thatcher on the other hand took wind in her sails of leadership from the victory.

There were no speeches Thursday, but Thatcher was prominent among the congregation, which included Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie.

The Queen, also 81, later placed a commemorative stone from one of the battle sites on a memorial cairn near the Chapel.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said before the service that the liberation of the Falkland Islands had been a 'huge achievement.'

'As we remember the service and sacrifice our armed forces gave 25 years ago, we remember too those who continue this proud tradition on operations around the world today,' he said.

Events to mark the anniversary were taking place all over Britain Thursday, culminating in a veterans' parade and a ceremonial flypast in London Sunday.

Commemorations on the Falkland Islands Thursday were joined by Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son, who laid a wreath for the fallen British soldiers.

The island's parliamentarian Richard Davies told Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa that the memorial service was also intended for the fallen Argentinian soldiers, for whom there was 'great respect.'

Edwards's brother, Prince Andrew, who served as a navy pilot in the conflict 25 years ago, wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper that he conflict had been a 'life-changing experience.'

Although war was 'not glamorous,' and indeed 'it was dirty,' he remained convinced until this day that 'it was our duty to recover those islands,' Andrew wrote.