Border controls have led to queues

First Minister Peter Caruana told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost that were was no prospect of Gibraltar giving in to Madrid's demands over sovereignty.

"The people of Gibraltar have been British for 300 years and want to carry on being British," he said.

"Spain has got to understand that on the eve of the 21st century there is no point in persisting with a claim to sovereignty to a territory 100% of whose inhabitants are opposed to being Spanish."

Tension in the area has increased in recent weeks after Madrid imposed tight border controls, which have led to long queues at checkpoints between the colony and Spain.

The measures were introduced following last month's row between Spain and Britain over fishing rights in the waters near Gibraltar.

Mr Caruana rejected claims that Gibraltar's status as a colony meant that it was a haven for drug dealing and money laundering.

No-one believed these allegations, he said, which were simply an attempt to blacken the name of the colony, and to undermine confidence in the economy.

The Spanish Ambassador Alberto Aza dismissed complaints about the border controls.

"This country (UK) has been traditionally very strong in supporting border controls," he said on Frost on Sunday.

'Just enforcing the rules'

"I don't know why they should be claiming or be surprised that other members of the EU are just complying with duties according to European rules."

Asked about extending the right of people in Gibraltar to vote in European elections, Mr Aza said he would not mind that, as long as it did not take anything away from Spain's claim to sovereignty.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar are due to hold a summit to tackle recent tensions over Gibraltar.

It is thought the two leaders have agreed to hold the meeting from 10 -11 April at Mr Blair's official country residence of Chequers.