Salmond calls it quits

Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Alex Salmond announced on Friday that he has resigned as party leader and as Scotland's First Minister.

"For me, as leader, my time is nearly over: But for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream will never die," a collected Salmond told reporters in Edinburgh, as he announced his plans to resign.

Salmond said he would not accept the nomination as leader of the Scottish National Party SNP at an annual conference in November. "After the membership ballot I will stand down as the first minister to allow the new leader to be elected," he said.

Thursday's historic referendum prevents Salmond, 59, from winning his dream of an independent Scotland, a goal for which he has toiled for most of his adult life.

'Broken heart' averted

Scottish voters turned out in record numbers to vote down a referendum on independence, final results showed on Friday. Some 55 percent, or 2 million people, said "No" to the prospect of ending Scotland's 307-year-old union within the United Kingdom, against the 45 percent in favor.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who faced the possibility of losing his job had Scotland voted in favor of independence, said he was "delighted" at the outcome of Thursday's referendum.

"It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end," he said during a speech at 10 Downing Street.

The referendum outcome has settled the debate over Scottish independence "for a generation," Cameron added. "Now is the time for our United Kingdom to come together and to move forward."

Voters in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh voted "No" to independence by a margin of 61 percent to 38 percent. Scotland's largest city, Glasgow, supported the "Yes" campaign, but the margin of victory was too small to change the outcome.

More powers for Scotland

Salmond called on Cameron and the leaders of Britain's other two main political parties to swiftly implement the proposals previously agreed upon in the event of a "No" vote. These would grant Scotland more control over its income tax and social welfare policies.

"The unionist parties made vows late in the campaign to devolve more powers to Scotland," Salmond said. "Scotland will expect these to be honored in rapid force."

In his speech, Cameron said he would "ensure" the new powers were honored, while extending the path toward greater autonomy to the entirety of the UK.

"Just as the people of Scotland will have more power of their affairs, so it follows that the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland must have a bigger say over theirs", he said.

The timetable for Scotland's new powers include drawing up legislation in time for a debate in Westminster as soon as March, said Salmond.

glb/ksb (Reuters, AP, dpa)