Provincial Argentine authorities stopped a cruise liner flying the Bermudian flag from docking in one of the country's ports today, upping the ante in the country's spat with Britain over the Falklands.

Britain and Argentina fought a ten-week war over the Falkland Islands in 1982 after Argentina invaded the South Atlantic archipelago, which the Argentines call Las Malvinas. The conflict claimed 900 lives.

Tensions have risen before the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict this year and oil exploration by British companies off the islands has raised the stakes.

The liner was prohibited from docking in the southern port of Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego province, because Bermuda is a British overseas territory, according to the news agency Telam.

"The ship that was not allowed to dock in the port of the provincial capital is the

Star Princess, a luxury cruise liner with a capacity of 2,600 passengers," Telam said, adding that the ship had docked there before the recent increase in diplomatic tensions.

London has refused to start talks on sovereignty with Buenos Aires unless the 3,000 islanders want them.

Britain will share in a Falkland Islands windfall when oil starts flowing there later this decade. With taxes and royalties estimated at up to $167 billion, the potential prize may continue to inflame tensions with Argentina.