The British nuclear submarine, Tireless, left the port of Gibraltar in southern Spain on Wednesday amid strong protests from Spain and local environmentalists.

The Tireless' visit to Gibraltar was "short and safe," the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding it deeply regretted that the British government did not take into account Spanish sensitivity in regard to the submarine.

The Spanish government had described the renewed presence of the Tireless at Gibraltar as a "provocation" and an "unfriendly act."

Local environmentalists feared that there might be leaks of radioactive substances.

"The British submarine posed a danger to health and security ofthe people of Gibraltar," said Antonio Munoz, spokesman of the environmental group Ecologists in Action.

As a response, Britain decided to end two days early the visit of the nuclear-powered submarine that arrived in Gibraltar Friday amid tight security.

In 2000, the Tireless remained almost a year at the spit of land attached to southern Spain due to a leak in its reactor cooling system, which also irked Madrid.

Gibraltar has been a contentious issue between Britain and Spain for decades. It was ceded to Britain by Spain under the 1713Treaty of Utrecht, but Madrid has been demanding that the territory be returned.

In May, London protested against Madrid's decision to refuse entry to Spanish ports for British cruise ships that dock at Gibraltar. Spain agreed to put a three-month moratorium on the ban,which expires in mid-August.

Source: Xinhua