British prime minister David Cameron has stepped up his campaign against Scottish independence in the final days before a referendum.
In his last visit to Scotland ahead of the vote, Mr Cameron told an audience in Aberdeen that a split from the United Kingdom would be a painful divorce and warned there would be no going back.
"At the end of the day, all the arguments of this campaign can be reduced to a single fact: we are better together," Mr Cameron said.
"So, as you reach your final decision, please, please, don't let anyone tell you you can't be a proud Scot and a proud Brit."
Polls suggest the race is extremely close ahead of Thursday's vote, which will determine whether Scotland remains part of the UK or not.
"We want you to stay," Mr Cameron said. "Head, heart and soul, we want you to stay."
Mr Cameron called on voters not to use anger at his government as an excuse to vote yes.
"Please don't think 'I'm frustrated with politics right now, so I walk out the door and never come back'," he said.
"If you don't like me, I won't be here forever. If you don't like this government, it won't last forever.
"But if you leave the United Kingdom, that will be forever."
Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has been arguing the country would be better ruled by a national government, and has the resources to prosper as an independent nation.
In London, thousands of people gathered to urge Scottish voters to reject independence.
Demonstrators at the rally in Trafalgar Square waved Union Jack flags and held up signs reading "Let's stay together" and "Scotland we love you, don't go".
"I am beside myself with worry that Scotland might be separate from the rest of the UK," demonstrator Shona Milne, 56, a longtime resident of England from Glasgow said.
"It will be an absolute travesty and terrible."
The mood was nervous but determined as pop songs like We are Family and Let's Stay Together played over loudspeakers to the crowd of more than 2,000.
Irish rock musician Sir Bob Geldof, a long-time resident of England, said the UK was "one of the greatest ideas ever invented for the modern age".
"There is such a thing as a big glorious 'No'," he told the rally.
"It's a family and we love each other."
The United States has also stepped in to the debate, saying it hoped its ally Britain would remain united.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Washington respected the right of Scots to decide their future but hoped the union would remain.
"This is a decision for the people of Scotland to make," Mr Earnest said.
"We certainly respect the right of individual Scots to make a decision along these lines.
"But... we have an interest in seeing the United Kingdom remain strong, robust, united and an effective partner."
The careful comments mirrored those by president Barack Obama as he stood side-by-side with Mr Cameron in Brussels earlier this year.
Officials have not gone into detail about how Washington's interests could be affected by the splintering of the UK.
Photo: Workers prepare to count referendum votes in a counting centre in Aberdeen. (Reuters: Dylan Martinez) 
Photo: An election official counts referendum votes in a counting centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Election officials begin counting referendum votes in a counting centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Ballot boxes arrive at the counting centre at Ingliston in Edinburgh. (Getty Images: Jeff J Mitchell) 
Photo: Ryan Randall plays his flame-throwing bagpipes outside a polling station in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Poll clerk George MacKay sits in the Coulags caravan polling station in the Scottish Highlands. (Reuters: Cathal McNaughton) 
Photo: Voters enter a polling station in Pitlochry to place their votes during the referendum. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: A pro-union campaigner distributes leaflets as voters arrive to vote at a polling station in Glasgow. (AFP: Ian Macnicol) 
Photo: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond leaves a polling station in Strichen after casting his vote during the referendum on Scottish independence, September 18, 2014. (Reuters: Dylan Martinez) 
Photo: People leave a polling station after placing their votes in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: A young voter leaves a polling station after casting her vote in Edinburgh. (AFP: Leon Neal) 
Photo: A man wears pro-independence stickers on his glasses in central Glasgow. The Yes vote has been moving ahead on Facebook as the vote draws nearer. (AFP: Leon Neal) 
Photo: A worker carries ballot boxes to a delivery van in Edinburgh the day before the referendum. (AFP: Ben Stansall) 
Photo: First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, gives the thumbs up as he flies past the Wallace Monument in Stirling. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: A 'no' vote supporter in Edinburgh, Scotland, holds a sticker depicting an image of Queen Elizabeth II. (AFP: Ben Stansall) 
Photo: Opposing yes and no signs sit in windows in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: A 'Yes' supporter with a tattoo of Scotland on his back holds a Saltire at a rally outside the BBC in Glasgow. (Reuters: Paul Hackett) 
Photo: Thousands of members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland have marched to oppose independence. (AFP: Ben Stans) 
Photo: A pro-independence Scottish supporter flashes the V for victory sign in Edinburgh. (AFP: Lesley Martin) 
Photo: Alistair Darling, the leader of the campaign to keep Scotland part of the United Kingdom, campaigns in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: British Prime Minister David Cameron gestures as he speaks during a visit to Scottish Widows offices in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 10, 2014. Mr Cameron urged Scottish voters not to rip apart a 'family of nations' as he joined British party leaders in Scotland to try to head off surging support for a split. (AFP: Andrew Milligan/Pool) 
Photo: A Scottish Saltire is raised over 10 Downing Street in London. (Reuters: Luke MacGregor) 
Photo: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond (front C) stands with supporters of the 'Yes Campaign' in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: Members of English Scots for Yes hold a tea party on the border at Berwick Upon Tweed to celebrate the continuing open border between Scotland and England. (Getty Images: Jeff J Mitchell) 
Photo: Opposing supporters for the Yes and No campaigns argue in Edinburgh. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: Scottish pro-independence supporters march through Edinburgh. (AFP: Andy Buchanan) 
Photo: A dog wears a pro-Scottish independence badge on its leash. (ABC News: Gary Kemble) 
Photo: Labour MP Jim Murphy addresses a crowd in Edinburgh during his tour to promote the case for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. (Reuters: Russell Cheyne) 
Photo: A girl with her face painted with the Scottish Saltire looks on as pro-independence supporters gather for a rally in Edinburgh. (AFP: Andy Buchanan) 
Photo: The Daily Mirror headline on the poll results and the British government's new proposals. (The Daily Mirror) 
Photo: A man declares his intentions as he stands outside the entrance to Edinburgh Castle. (Reuters: David Moir, file photo) 
Photo: LtoR Scottish Labour Party leader Johann Lamont, former British finance minister Alistair Darling, Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie pose for photos at launch of Campaign against Independence. (AFP: Andy Buchanan) Gallery: Scotland decidesABC/wires
Topics: royal-and-imperial-matters, world-politics, referendums, united-kingdom, scotland First posted September 16, 2014 07:37:25View the original article here
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