WMT - "Set Geographic Target" not available for a .co.uk domain

[confuscius]

I have just set up a new .co.uk and in Webmaster Tools then when I am unable to set the Geographic target! I am met with the message 'Your site's domain (.UK) is already associated with the country/region: United Kingdom'.

Is this something new that affects all non .com websites?

How does a co.uk unset this preference to target the world, given that there are many .co.uk whose primary target may well not be the UK?

[Whitey]

As far as i know you cannot change this. Google assumes the TLD represents your target audience.

Not that i agree with this assumption.

[atlrus]

I feel for you and I hope Google would drop this assumption soon. I have tried everything to get one .co.uk website on Google.com - hosted in the usa, 90% of links from usa websites, mentioned usa a few times on home page - without any success. I am on first page in the .co.uk but in the 50+ PAGE on .com