MADRID, July 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The Spanish government has decided to recall its ambassador to Britain to protest against a planned visit to Gibraltar by British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said on Friday.

    The Spanish government and people were very disappointed at the"unfriendly gesture" of the British government, Moratinos told reporters in the southern city of Cordoba.

    The decision was announced hours after the Council of Ministers held a meeting earlier on Friday, during which Spanish Principal Deputy Prime Minister Maria Fernandez de la Vega described Hoon's visit as "untimely" and said the Foreign Ministry would take diplomatic steps soon.

    Spanish media reported that Hoon plans to visit Gibraltar on Wednesday to participate in the ceremony of the 300th anniversary of the British occupation of the enclave, located at Spain's southern tip.

    Hoon's visit comes after the British nuclear submarine Tireless' visit to Gibraltar on July 9 and British Princess Anne's visit on June 28. Both visits triggered strong protests from the Spanish government and revived tensions between the two countries.     

    Gibraltar has been a contentious issue between Britain and Spain for decades. It was occupied by Britain in 1704 and ceded to Britain under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Madrid has been demanding that the territory be returned.

    Relations between Britain and Spain's new Socialist government, in power for just three months, have been repeatedly strained over the British colony.

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

    Spain's new government hopes to boost talks over the Gibraltar with Britain, as the former Conservative government did, through the so-called Brussels process.

    In 2002, the British government said it was in principle in favor of sharing sovereignty with Spain over Gibraltar. Talks stalled when Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to stay British in a 2002 referendum, which Spain called illegal. Enditem