Juan Carlos Juarez said Britain should demonstrate that the presence of the vessel in the region was not a security risk.

Spain is sensitive to the submarine's visit as three years ago another nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Tireless, docked in Gibraltar for repairs to a leak near its nuclear reactor and following problems with its reactor cooling system.

On that occasion Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar urged Britain to take the vessel into British waters.

Juarez said in a statement issued to Spain's Europa Press news agency that all information pertaining to the visit of the Turbulent should be made available to Spanish authorities "to facilitate (the taking) of necessary security measures."

On Saturday, the mayor of nearby Algeciras, Juan Antonio Palacios, criticised Spain's conservative government for neither protesting against the vessel's presence since Thursday nor demanding its removal, in contrast to its reaction to the Tireless visit.

Palacios said Aznar's administration had a responsibility to people living in the region to ensure their safety.

He added the government should tell Britain "to stop bringing their nuclear submarines to Gibraltar," a British possession on the Andalusian southern coast of Spain.

Gibraltarian naval base sources insist the Turbulent is merely making a "routine visit".

WAR.WIRE