David Cameron's claim that Argentina's attitude towards the Falklands is "colonialist" has been rubbished as "nonsense" by the country's president.
As the 30th anniversary of the Falklads approaches, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said: "They are trying to paint us as bad guys, or violent guys and really, that is not who we are."
Fernandez de Kirchner was making her first public appearance after having surgery for a thryoid problem.
Last week David Cameron told MPs: "We support the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination, and what the Argentinians have been saying recently, I would argue is actually far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British.
"I'm determined we should make sure that our defences and everything else is in order, which is why the National Security Council discussed this issue yesterday."
Argentina's foreign minister described Britain as being in "imperial decline" following Cameron's comments.
Hector Timerman accused the prime minister of rewriting history, according to Argentina'sTelam news agency.
"Obviously at a time when there are only remnants of colonialism, Great Britain, in an imperial decline, decides to rewrite history," he was quoted as saying.
“Not even the English newspapers support Cameron”.
The majority of islanders are said to support their British heritage.