Hundreds of demonstrators in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday protested a plan to merge Scotland’s historic battalions into a new “super regiment.” Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said the Royal Scots will merge with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers to become a single battalion and join the remaining four battalions, including the Black Watch, to form The Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Daily Telegraph reported. Hoon said the changes were necessary to provide a more “agile, flexible and deployable” Army capable of meeting the security challenges of the post-Sept. 11, 2001, era. The protest group, Save the Scottish Regiments, as well as veterans and politicians, say the plan would destroy centuries of tradition. The protesters have vowed to fight the reforms and confirmed it will take on the Labor government in key districts in next year’s General Election. © Copyright 2004 by United Press International

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