London - The British government vowed yesterday to "defend with determination" the legitimate rights of Gibraltar as the latest stand-off with Spain threatened to escalate into further confrontations. While the Foreign Office said it would raise threats by Madrid with the European Commission, in the House of Commons there were demands from MPs to send a navy fisheries protection vessel to the area.
Tensions were raised last month when Spain - which has long contested British sovereignty over the Rock - tightened border controls after the seizure by police of one of its vessels for illegal fishing in Gibraltar's waters.
