First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said her semi-autonomous administration would seek "immediate discussions" with EU nations and institutions to ensure that Scotland could remain in the bloc despite the UK-wide vote to leave.

"(We will) explore possible options to protect Scotland's place in the EU," she said after meeting with her Cabinet in Edinburgh on Saturday morning. She added that a new referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was "very much on the table."

"Cabinet agreed that we will seek to enter into immediate discussions with the EU institutions and other EU member states to explore all possible options to protect Scotland's place in the EU," Sturgeon reported after the meeting. She added: "Over the next few days I will establish an advisory panel comprising a range of experts who can advise me and the Scottish Government on a number of important matters: legal, financial and diplomatic."

Her announcement came after 62 per cent of voters in Scotland voted Remain in the EU referendum last Thursday.

Scottish independence vote 2

Sturgeon confirmed her government would begin to draw up the legislation that could see a fresh vote on Scottish independence from the rest of the UK take place within the next two years.

Scotland voted in 2014 to remain a part of the UK but that decision was seen by many as being conditional on the UK remaining in the EU.

After a cabinet meeting at Bute House, Sturgeon said: "We are determined to act decisively but in a way that builds unity across Scotland about the way forward. "As I said yesterday, a second independence referendum is clearly an option that requires to be on the table and is very much on the table.

"To ensure that that option is a deliverable one within the required timetable, steps will be taken now to ensure that the necessary legislation is in place. Cabinet this morning formally agreed that work," the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader said.

There may be a route for Scotland to stay in the EU, while also being part of the UK. Denmark set a precendent for an arrangement for its three states - the Danish mainland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. While both the Faroe Islands and Greenland have seats in the Danish parliament, neither are in the EU.

(DW)