Scotland's SNP hold final conference before independence vote

ABERDEEN: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond opened the Scottish National Party's spring conference on Friday, urging delegates to seize "the opportunity of a lifetime" in September's independence referendum.

Speaking in Scotland's oil capital Aberdeen, the SNP leader told party members that they had the chance to achieve a "prosperous, just society" by voting "yes" in the ballot on September 18.

Salmond delivered the rallying cry as the SNP marked the 80th anniversary of its foundation at its final conference before the crunch ballot, which could result in the end of Scotland's 300-year link with the UK.