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'''Scotland''' is the second-largest and northern-most of the four countries in the [[United Kingdom]].

'''Scotland''' is the second-largest and northern-most of the four countries in the [[United Kingdom]].

It is about three-eighths the size of its southern neighbour England, but is much less populous; most of the population lives in the ''central belt'', a band across central Scotland between the capital [[Edinburgh]] and the largest city, [[Glasgow]]. Other cities are [[Aberdeen]] and [[Dundee]]. [[Inverness]] and [[Stirling]] were granted city status recently but are in fact smaller than some of the larger Scottish towns like Paisley and Perth.

It is about three-eighths the size of its southern neighbour England, but is much less populous; most of the population lives in the ''central belt'', a band across central Scotland between the capital [[Edinburgh]] and the largest city, [[Glasgow]]. Other cities are [[Aberdeen]] and [[Dundee]].  

Scottish nationalists in recent years have sought more local autonomy from London, and have been granted control over some local issues, including justice.  The Scotrtish government seriously damaged its international prestige in August, 2009, when it released convicted terrorist Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahl, planted the bomb that destroyed a passenger airline over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. He had served only 8 years of his term when he was released on grounds of compassion because he had terminal cancer. He was welcomed home in Libya as a national hero, to the discgust of the civilized world.

Scottish nationalists in recent years have sought more local autonomy from London, and have been granted control over some local issues, including justice.  The Scottish government seriously damaged its international prestige in August, 2009, when it released convicted terrorist Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahl, planted the bomb that destroyed a passenger airline over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. He had served only 8 years of his term when he was released on grounds of compassion because he had terminal cancer. He was welcomed home in Libya as a national hero, to the disgust of the civilized world.