MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Flag tramplers free on bail and without passports.

A Briton, an Australian and a South African arrested and jailed for trampling and trashing an Argentine flag in a Ushuaia pub were released on bail but they had to hand in their passports and will have to remain in the city until February when the Judiciary resumes activities.

David Fleming, 20, Benjamin Sargent 28 and Darren Redden, 28, were arrested January 6 and held on federal charges of "desecrating the national flag", and after depositing a 3,500 US dollars bail each were released Saturday.

The three, and other friends, had been drinking late into the night at the Galway pub belonging to a Malvinas war veteran, Pablo Viña, when they decided to tear down an Argentine flag flying from a pole outside the public house. Previously they had taken pictures of an Argentine national team shirt with the number 10 of Diego Maradona in the back, which was hanging in the bar. They then proceeded to tear and trample on the flag as if it was a "war bounty" and finally threw it into a dustbin, according to witnesses.

Neighbours warned the police about the rowdy bunch and they were finally arrested. An acting Federal Judge imposed the bail and warned them not to abandon Ushuaia.

The federal crime of "desecration to the national flag" carries a penalty of one month to four years in prison. Judicial activity resumes in Argentina January 31 following the summer's recess.

Alejandro Verola, counsel for the defence said it's going to be "a long and difficult case. I'm sure the Judge it going to take his time", adding that the judicial situation is complicated because it's a "highly sensitive and emotional issue".

The three are currently living in a camp for packers but are looking for rooms in downtown Ushuaia.

The Argentine press reports the case has been reported to the Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry and that the British Embassy is "closely monitoring" the situation.