Services held to honour war dead

Events have been held across Scotland to remember servicemen and women who have been killed in past and current conflicts.

At 1100 GMT, two-minute silences were held at services across the country.

First Minister Alex Salmond gave a reading at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and laid a wreath at the city chambers' Stone of Remembrance.

Black Watch soldiers who have just returned from Afghanistan held their own service.

The event, at Fort George near Inverness, remembered the Black Watch soldiers who died during their seven-month tour of Afghanistan.

Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Salmond said: "Remembrance Sunday allows people across generations to recognise and pay tribute to the duty and commitment of our service personnel and veterans, and express our gratitude for their selfless work."

George Ross, acting general secretary of the Royal British Legion Scotland, said: "We are proud to play our part in helping the nation pay their respects."

In Aberdeen, a parade of former soldiers and members of the armed forces was held, along with a service in the Kirk of St Nicholas.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott was attending the Remembrance Service at the Shetland War Memorial at Hillhead in Lerwick, while Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray was laying a wreath in his Dunbar constituency.

Rt Rev William Hewitt, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: "The reality of war hits home particularly this year when we learn of members of our armed forces who have lost their lives, or who have been severely injured in recent combats.

"We see pictures of distraught families and whole communities receiving their loved ones back home and we cannot help but be touched by it.

"Remembrance Sunday is a day not only to remember people, some of them close to us, who lost their lives defending their country, but it is also a time of reflection and allows us to think how it is that wars are still happening around the world today."

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