Analysts said on Tuesday that Argentina is angling for a U. S. role in its Falklands oil dispute with Britain that will go beyond Washington sitting on the fence as the elder cousin to both Buenos Aires and London.

Argentina and Britain went to war over the islands in 1982 when the Latin American nation was under the thumb of a military dictatorship and Britain had its first brush with the military resolve of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The Falklands' reported oil reserves, said to be second only to those in Saudi Arabia, have spurred Argentine diplomatic campaign in support of Argentine sovereignty over the islands.

Clinton's visit, as expected, was received in Buenos Aires with optimistic interpretations that had little relation to reality, but State Department spokesmen were quick to point out not to read too much in Clinton's stop in Argentina as part of her South American tour.

The Obama administration believed the Falklands issue should be resolved bilaterally between Argentina and the United Kingdom, U. S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley said. He further added that the United States has strong friendships with both the United Kingdom and Argentina and "we are willing to help."

Crowley cited Clinton's "precise language" at the start of her tour, adding, "Our view remains that this is an issue that should be resolved bilaterally between the two countries but, as she said on the flight down, if the United States can be helpful, we will be happy to see what we can do."

Argentine diplomats have set their sights on eliciting U. S. sympathy for their cause, in line with the explicit Latin American support they received at last month's summit of Central and South American countries at Cancun, Mexico. (With input from agencies)