Former US President Bill Clinton has urged Scots to send a “powerful image” to the world by voting to remain in the UK.
Stepping into the debate for the first time, Mr Clinton admitted he had been reluctant to express his views up to now, but argued that separation would require a “long and complex” negotiating process with “considerable uncertainty”.
He maintained the decision was “for Scots alone to make”, but raised concerns about Alex Salmond’s suggestion that Scotland could keep the pound without the agreement of the rest of the UK.
And he added that a pledge from the three main UK parties that new powers would be delivered to the Scottish Parliament provided “most of the benefits of independence” but avoided “downside” risks.
In a statement released by the Better Together campaign, Mr Clinton said: “Because the independence vote is a decision for the Scots alone to make, and because Scots are already legendary for their independence of mind, I have been reluctant to express my views on the matter.
“I hope my decision to do so will be received in the spirit of friendship with which it is offered.
“I have watched the debate on the future of Scotland with great interest and admiration. With so much turmoil and division across the globe, I hope the Scots will inspire the world with a high turnout and a powerful message of both identity and inclusion.”
Mr Clinton, a Democrat, was the 42nd president of the United States, holding office over two terms from 1993 to 2001.
Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond has rejected reports that Spain may use its veto to block Scotland becoming a member of the European Union.
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy was said to have told his parliament that Scotland would have to re-apply for membership in the same way as any other new candidate country, with all existing members having to ratify the decision.
Mr Salmond said: “The Spanish government’s position is unchanged. They have said so many times that if there is a consenting democratic process then Spain, as they put it, would have nothing to say about it.
“Anybody who believes that a country with 1% of the (EU) population, but 20% of the fish, 25% of the renewable energy and 60% of the oil reserves is not going to be welcome in the wider Europe … doesn’t understand the process by which Europe … accepts democratic results and secondly that Scotland has a huge amount of attractiveness to the rest of the European continent.”
The first minister also insisted there would be a rethink from the main UK parties on a currency union immediately after a Yes vote.
He said: “On Friday, when the Yes side have won this campaign, and I hope have won it with a decent margin, then you will find Westminster politicians singing an entirely different tune.
Mr Salmond also claimed the No camp had made a mistake by focusing on warnings about the economic and fiscal consequences of independence.
“The central mistake that the No campaign has made is to actually tell people in Scotland that the land of Adam Smith is not capable of running its own affairs financially.
“That message has been thoroughly rejected by Scotland and, whatever the result, this huge movement towards Yes is an outstanding feature of the campaign.”
Mr Salmond will give a final referendum speech in Perth today after a campaigning tour around Ayrshire.