Monday 2nd April, 2012 marked the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands / Malvinas War. With diplomatic relations strained between Argentina and Great Britain, nationalistic graffiti and political propaganda flood the walls of Buenos Aires while residents go about their regular lives. However, on Monday, the left-wing political group Quebracho organised a protest march that started at 11am in Retiro and ended in a chaotic demonstration in front of the British embassy in Recoleta. The Quebracho claim the Malvinas as Argentine territory and call for the end of the “colonialism of our continent”. Photos are by Allison Kate Cherkis, Patricio Guillamón, Beatrice Murch, Patricio Murphy, and Lauren White.

Graffiti in downtown Buenos Aires declaring that the Malvinas 'were, are and will be Argentine'. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)

The ceremony at the Malvinas war veterans' memorial at Plaza San Martín commemorates the fallen. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Members of the Argentine armed forces stand at attention during the ceremony at the Malvinas war veterans' memorial at Plaza San Martín. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

A large home-made sign calls for the end of British colonialism over the Malvinas. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Malvinas propaganda stencil on a building in Buenos Aires near the British embassy. (Photo: Lauren White)

Police stand ready to protect the British embassy against the Quebracho on Monday 2nd April, 2012. (Photo: Lauren White)

The Quebracho stand at the British embassy ready to strike on Monday 2nd April, 2012. (Photo: Lauren White)

Posters blanket the streets of Buenos Aires declaring the Malvinas as Argentine. (Photo: Allison Kate Cherkis)

A large banner is put up on Avenida de Mayo calling for the British to leave. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)

La Campora painted propaganda all over walls of Buenos Aires. (Photo: Beatrice Murch)

The Quebracho burn Prince William in effigy during the protest outside the British Embassy. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

Riot police move in to protect the British embassy against the Quebracho on Monday 2nd April, 2012. (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

The Revolutionary party protests for the repatriation of the Malvinas. (Photo: Patricio Guillamón)

Protestors sing the national anthem. (Photo: Patricio Guillamón)

Protestors call for the British to leave the Malvinas. (Photo: Patricio Guillamón)

Firebombs were thrown and water cannons were pulled out during a protest yesterday in Buenos Aires to mark 30 years since the Falklands/Malvinas war.

Protestors burnt flags and an effigy of Price William outside the British Embassy in Recoleta.

The march turned violent after protesters clashed with riot police who were guarding the embassy. Some demonstrators threw motlov cocktails and stones at police, who in response sprayed the crowd with water cannon.

At least four policemen were injured.

It was reported in several publications that hundreds of members of the left-leaning groups Quebracho, Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR), and the Popular Student and Anti-imperialist (CEPA) movement were involved. Today, a spokesman from Quebracho denied their involvement in the protest.

“We did not participate in the violence yesterday,” Quebracho leader Fernando Esteche told Página 12. “Another time we participated in a similar way, with popular fellow militants, but yesterday we did not. If we wanted to, we would have done it.”

This morning British Prime Minister David Cameron commented on the incident in a statement released by the British Foreign Ministry.

“We hope that the Argentine Government continue to meet these obligations under the convention and apply the law against any protester who participate in criminal acts,” he said.