Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland, met Muslim leaders recently and urged Scotland's communities to unite to tackle the threats of terrorism, racism and sectarianism.

The Bute House reception was part of the Scottish Executive's One Scotland campaign to promote cross-cultural relations.

Mr Salmond said the reception was one of a series of events based on celebrating the role of a variety of communities in Scottish society.

He said: "We are very fortunate in Scotland with the diversity of our communities and the enrichment of our society with so many influences. They all contribute to one Scotland.

"The meeting, like a range of our meetings, is celebrating the fact that there are many strands and shades to the Scottish tartan."

Referring to the attack on Glasgow Airport, he said: "Events showed the importance of not being divided.

"Our response is about how you ensure Scotland is held together as a community and as a society.

"One of the clear objectives of terrorists is to divide communities from each other - to divide them from within."

The meeting also followed recent reprisal attacks against Muslim owned Businesses in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Osama Saeed, Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain, said the issues he hoped to raise included anti-terror legislation and Islamic schools.

He said: "I'm sure this meeting would have been taking place anyway, but obviously it has taken on a new light given the events at Glasgow Airport last month.

"Good community relations do not happen by accident, and need to be striven for.

"If we continue to get things right, and improve on it, Scotland can be a beacon to the world in Muslim and non-Muslim relations."