Scotland pauses to remember war dead

Published on Thursday 11 November 2010 13:02

THOUSANDS of Scots fell silent for two minutes today to remember those who have died in war.

• MSPs observe the silence at the Scottish Parliament

As the clock struck 11am, the nation paused to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day, when peace returned to Europe at the end of the First World War.

The agreement between Germany and the Allies after four years of fighting took effect at the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

Wearing their poppies with pride, people joined in the two-minute silence as various commemoration services and events were held around the country.

People gathered at public spaces like the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, Glasgow's Central Station and City Square in Dundee.

There were also poignant ceremonies at the two Erskine homes, in Edinburgh and Bishopton in Renfrewshire, which provide nursing and medical care for former members of the forces.

But in London the solemn moment was marred by a small group of protesters styling themselves Muslims Against Crusades, who burned a model of a poppy.

The protest, in Exhibition Road, Kensington, involved about 30 people.

About 50 counter demonstrators gathered nearby but the two sides were kept apart by police.