CAMPAIGNERS have claimed that First Minister Alex Salmond "refused" to attend a meeting calling for a public inquiry into the baby ashes scandal.
Bereaved parents took photographs of their dead infants to the Scottish Parliament as part of a campaign for a public inquiry into the mishandling of babies' ashes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk and Aberdeen.
The meeting was hosted by Labour leader Johann Lamont and backed by Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Green co-convener Patrick Harvie, as well as MSPs from their parties. No SNP MSPs attended. SNP MSP Bob Doris, deputy convener of Holyrood's Health Committee, said he would attend but did not, Ms Lamont said.
A complaint has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament's chief executive, claiming attendees were going to be harassed into backing their call for an inquiry, Ms Lamont said.
Campaigners and opposition MSPs denied that they planned to "ambush" MSPs.
A petition was circulated and "pledge cards" handed out, calling for support.
Willie Reid, chairman of Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee, from Edinburgh, said: "I personally bumped into Mr Salmond last Wednesday. I personally invited him and he made an instant refusal at that time. He didn't give a reason.
"I emailed him and said: 'You've already refused to answer two of my previous emails. You did promise to write to me'. We are now seven days down the line and he still hasn't."
Ms Lamont said: "Everyone was invited across parties because this is beyond party politics."
Miss Davidson said: "The invitation sent out contained no suggestion this was a party political issue or a bash-the-Government issue."
Responding to Mr Reid's claims, the Scottish Government circulated a letter dated June 18, 2013, signed by Mr Salmond, stating: "I was very sorry to hear of your deeply upsetting experiences, and share your desire to ensure that the incidents at Mortonhall Crematorium are investigated thoroughly.
"I am confident that Dame Elish Angiolini will conduct a robust investigation."
He said the Bonomy Commission will provide "the quickest and most effective path to updating legislation" and that calls for a public inquiry are best determined once it has been completed alongside the Angiolini investigation.
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