Alex
Salmond to step down as Scotland's First Minister
Alex Salmond is to step down as Scottish first minister after voters rejected independence.
He said it had been "the privilege of my life to serve as First
Minister".
"For me as leader my time is nearly over. But for Scotland, the
campaign continues and the dream shall never die," he said.
He will also resign as
leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which he has led for a total of 20
years.Scottish voters backed the country staying in the UK by 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989 in Thursday's referendum.
Meanwhile, the Queen has said Scotland's vote to stay in the Union was "a result that all of us throughout the United Kingdom will respect".
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Source: BBC News
