Queen appeals for unity; Six arrested after violence in Glasgow
A police officer on horseback shouts at supporters of the No vote as police try to keep apart ‘Yes' and ‘No' supporters after pro-Union supporters gathered with British Union flags to celebrate the referendum result in Glasgow. (Photo: AP)
Edinburgh: Clashes broke out between Scottish independence supporters and pro-unionists in Glasgow’s George Square late on Friday night after Scotland’s historic referendum resulted in a vote against independence.
Police Officers, some mounted on horses, lined up to divide a large number of people waving union flags from a small group of ‘Yes’ supporters, reported the Mirror. Police rushed in to separate the two sides after hundreds of union jack-waving thugs arrived at George Square, where Yes campaigners have held daily rallies.
According to Guardian, six people were arrested after group of young pro-union supporters clashed with pro-independence supporters. However, Independent reported that “dishonest” social media users tried to fuel the violence by posting pictures of the 2011 London riots and claiming them to be of disorder in Glasgow following a post-referendum rally.
News of tensions quickly spread on social media and were dubbed the “Glasgow riots” on Twitter but police emphasised that officers were “managing the situation”.
A spokesperson from Police Scotland said there were about 100 people in each group. Police helicopters hovered as the situation became increasingly heated, and officers moved in to form a human barrier to separate the two groups.
Guardian reported that a number of them were teenagers, and clearly drunk. At one point a section of the crowd broke through police lines and marched up the central shopping area of Buchanan Street, chanting the words to Rule Britannia. Some shouted loyalist slogans and racist abuse, and appeared to make Nazi salutes.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday called for “mutual respect” among Scots following a divisive campaign. The queen appealed for Scots on both sides to set aside their differences, saying: “Despite the range of views that have been expressed, we have in common an enduring love of Scotland. I have no doubt that the Scots, like others throughout the United Kingdom, are able to express strongly-held opinions before coming together again in a spirit of mutual respect,” said the queen, who is currently staying in her summer residence of Balmoral in northeast Scotland.
Moreover, Russia said on Saturday that the conduct of the Scottish referendum “did not meet international standards”, with its observers complaining the count took place in rooms that were too big and the procedure was flawed.
“Nobody was interested in who was bringing in the voting slips. There were no stamps or signatures as the bulletins were handed over,” Igor Borisov a Russian observer said.
( Source : agencies )
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