Britain 'disappointed' after Argentina snubs Falklands talks

LONDON (AFP) - Britain said on Friday it was disappointed that Argentina had rejected an invitation to meet Falkland Islands officials during Foreign Minister Hector Timerman's planned visit to London next week.

Timerman said in Buenos Aires on Thursday that he did not want a "third party" in the talks, insisting the United Nations regards the dispute over the islands in the South Atlantic Ocean as a bilateral issue.

Britain's Foreign Office had said it hoped Timerman, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and representatives from the Legislative Assembly of the Falklands would be able to meet.

"We are disappointed that the meeting has been cancelled," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.