The First Minister is asking the UN to grant Scotland the right to attend the next round of talks on halting the spread of nuclear weapons.

Alex Salmond argues because the UK's nuclear deterrent is based north of the border, Scotland should be accorded observer status at the next round of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) talks in spring - a gathering in Vienna that will begin preparations for the 2010 review of the treaty.

The timing of the announcement on seeking UN observer status was tied to a meeting in Glasgow today that will bring together groups opposed to the replacement of Trident.

Apart from the UK, there are another 189 signatories to the 2005 update of the treaty and Mr Salmond has written to them outlining the stance of the Scottish Government on nuclear weapons. A formal application for observer status will follow.

This has enraged Labour politicians at Westminster. Europe Minister Jim Murphy said: "Instead of seeking support from the leaderships in Tehran and Harare for a policy he knows will not succeed, Alex Salmond should focus on delivering the 1000 extra police offers and the council tax freeze he promised the people of Scotland."

A spokesman for the First Minister said: "We intend to explore the possibility of taking up observer status at future NPT meetings, so that we can more directly and effectively represent the aspirations and interests of Scotland's people."

Today's summit is being held under the government's National Conversation series of debates, and will include representatives of churches in Scotland, STUC, local government and Friends of the Earth among others.