Hoon visits Gibraltar despite Spanish protests

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon went ahead with a visit to Gibraltar yesterday despite protests from the Spanish government which has called the visit an "unfriendly gesture".

Mr Hoon will take part in celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the seizure of the tiny territory on the southern Spanish coast by an Anglo-Dutch naval force - angering Spain, which brands the British presence there an occupation. Madrid last week summoned the British ambassador to complain about Mr Hoon's visit, which Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos called the latest in a series of unfriendly gestures by Britain since Spain's new government took power.

In London, the Ministry of Defence declined to comment beyond confirming Mr Hoon had reached Gibraltar. Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana earlier dismissed the Spanish protests.

"How we choose to celebrate our very close links with Britain and our British sovereignty are a matter for us," Mr Caruana told BBC radio.

"Frankly, for the Spaniards, after 300 years of Gibraltar being British, to try and lecture us on how we should commemorate, that is really none of their business and somewhat impertinent."