Anger at 'Rock' sovereignty deal

Gibraltarians feel they 'are being sold down the river'

GIBRALTAR -- Gibraltarians have staged a noisy protest against Britain's admission that it is prepared to accept joint sovereignty of 'The Rock' with Spain

Residents used car horns and whistles to show their disgust while the Gibraltar government said it would not accept joint sovereignty.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw admitted joint sovereignty was on the table in discussions with Spain on Friday. (Full story)

Britain gained possession of Gibraltar in 1704 sparking a 300-year dispute between the two countries but Gibraltarians today largely say they want to remain British.

Protesters with banners reading 'Keep Gibraltar British' staged spontaneous demonstrations outside The Convent, the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar, and the Naval Base.

Dominique Searle, editor of the Gibraltar Chronicle told the UK's Press Association: "Everywhere you go, everybody you see is talking about it.

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"People feel they are being sold down the river, they certainly think they are being shafted. There is a lot of anger."

In a statement on Friday night the Gibraltar Government condemned Mr Straw's announcement.

"Mr. Straw has politically and openly conceded to Spain the principle of joint

sovereignty," the statement said.

"He knows that there is no meaningful level of support in Gibraltar for joint sovereignty. The Gibraltar Government will therefore not take part in dialogue under Mr. Straw's `Westminster Declaration'."

Straw told the UK parliament that Britain was prepared to accept joint sovereignty of Gibraltar with Spain but that the final decision would rest with the people of Gibraltar.

In January the Foreign Office, which Straw heads, reacted angrily to Spanish news reports that a joint sovereignty deal was being talked about. (Full story)

"The various press stories are conjecture and speculation," a Foreign Office spokesman told Reuters at the time.