Falklands: Argentines abuse cruise line passengers in Buenos Aires "The colonialists think they are above this law," said Toni López, a spokesman for the Patriotic Resistance movement, which led the protest. The clashes over the disputed archipelago follow at least a dozen incidents on international liners, staff, passengers or cruise liner offices, in recent weeks, The Daily Telegraph has learned. Amid growing anger in London, the British Government last month "formally summoned" the Argentine Ambassador Alicia Castro to protest against the incidents, which have affected almost 10,000 passengers since mid November. They include officials refusing permission entry Argentine ports or delaying ships, masked militants attacking and ransacking offices of shipping companies and scheduled cruise itineraries either altered or abandoned to appease locals. Officials say that many of the militants have targeted ships in the mistaken belief that they are British, forcing several companies to scrap tours to the region. The Foreign Office has accused Argentina of trying "to strangle" the islands" economy, which earns £10m from cruise ship tourism and employs a quarter of the working population. "We condemn unequivocally any efforts to intimidate companies from pursuing their lawful business," said Hugo Swire, the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs minister. The British government deeply regrets that elements in Argentina have recently taken action aimed at disrupting cruise ships that visit the Falklands. This week Cristina Kirchner, Argentina's president, penned an emotional open letter to David Cameron calling for the region to be returned to her government's control. The row continued yesterday after The Sun published its own letter, urging on the Argentine government to give up its claims to the islands. Last night the Argentine government refused to condemn the attacks but denied being behind the protests.