Scottish independence leader meets Marois

Scotland’s independence leader avoided the public spotlight as he was visited Tuesday by a counterpart — Quebec Premier Pauline Marois. Scottish leader Alex Salmond did not attend a media event after the meeting, no news agency photographers were allowed in to photograph him with Marois, and his office downplayed the event. A spokeswoman for Salmond described it as a simple “courtesy” meeting and said he had several similar ones also planned for Tuesday. Marois blamed the protocol of the Scottish Parliament on Salmond not appearing in public with her. A referendum on Scottish independence is set for the fall of 2014. Two reasons might explain Salmond’s no-show: he may not have wanted to alienate the federal government, and he may not have been eager to be seen in public with the leader of a party that had lost its own independence votes — twice.