THE Atlantic island of Rockall yesterday made a unilateral declaration of independence from the United Kingdom.

At dawn three Greenpeace protesters living on the 70ft rock off Scotland since last week read out their proclamation to establish a so-called Global State of Waveland, with Rockall as its capital. The flag of Waveland was raised: a black rock marked with a whale outline, emerging from black waves and surmounted by a rainbow.

The inhabitants - named as Peter, Mieke and Al - are demonstrating against plans to explore for the massive oil deposits thought to lie below the waters surrounding Rockall, which have been claimed by Ireland, Iceland and Denmark as well as the United Kingdom.

Their declaration asserted that "humans should respect and protect the global commons and the diversity of life on earth" and "secure peace with the natural world". A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Rockall has been British since 1955. That was confirmed by an Act of Parliament. I don't think we would take this very seriously as a challenge to our sovereignty."