First Minister Alex Salmond was yesterday criticised by a Burmese democracy campaigner after it emerged he had written to the country's military rulers in his bid to rid Scotland of nuclear weapons.

Mr Salmond was also criticised for seeking the support of Zimbabwe and Iran.

Nicol Stephen, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, accused the First Minister of seeking the support of some of the most "vilified and dangerous regimes in the world" to help further the cause of Scottish independence.

And Aung Moe Zaw, chairman of Burma's Democracy Party For A New Society, who earlier welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by Mr Sal- mond, joined the criticism.

Burma, Zimbabwe and Iran are among the 189 NPT countries written to by Mr Salmond.