TOUGH laws will be introduced to stamp out the illegal persecution of Scotland's birds of prey after the launch of the most conclusive report yet to point the finger at gamekeepers and landowners.

Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar yesterday pledged to take ''all possible steps'' to eliminate crimes against birds such as peregrines, golden eagles, and hen harriers, describing the situation as a ''national disgrace''.

The report sparked a row between conservationists and gamekeepers last night.

While the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) blamed rogue landowners and gamekeepers for the problem, the Scottish Gamekeepers' Association said raptors were threatening their livelihood and called for a licensed cull.

The report revealed for the first time the massive scale of persecution against birds of prey, including the poisoning, shooting and trapping of fully-grown birds, the slaughter of chicks, and the destruction of nests and eggs.

On some Scottish estates, three quarters of young birds were lost because of human interference, the report claimed. There were 90 reported cases of persecution last year but experts believe the true figure is much higher.

Mr Dewar unveiled the findings, compiled by the Scottish Raptor Study Groups, at the Wildlife and Countryside Fair in Kinross.

He said: ''Although we are all aware of individual incidents of wildlife crime in Scotland, such as theft of eggs and shooting or poisoning of birds of prey, it is less well known that illegal persecution of some species, rather than the lack of suitable habitat, is the reason why in some areas the birds are scarce or non-existent.

''The Government, and no doubt the Scottish Parliament, will take all possible steps to eliminate persecution.''

Mr David Minns, the RSPB's head of public affairs, blamed some landowners and keepers. However, he praised a growing number of owners and keepers for their enlightened attitude and stressed they were horrified by human interference.

He added: ''It is heartening that the Government at the highest level has made it so clear that it will not accept this catalogue of unnecessary destruction continuing any longer.

''The Secretary of State is saying that it is unacceptable in a modern Scotland. It is Victorian stuff which is taking us back to the days when anything that had a hook bill was killed.''

A spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers' Association said: ''We have been very active in getting the message across that the persecution of birds of prey must stop.

''However, we still believe that conservationists should recognise the impact that these birds have, not just on stocks of game birds but also the population of song birds.''

He added: ''Nature will not find its own level. Some of these birds are ruthless killers and will create mayhem for the sheer hell of it.

''If we do need new laws, they should not be aimed at persecuting gamekeepers, who are under enough pressure already. We may have to look at opportunities to introduce a licensed cull of raptors where their numbers permit.''

The report claims that peregrines on keepered ground in Central Scotland produce 38% fewer young than those on land where no gamekeeper is present.

In Tayside, 43% fewer young golden eagles were fledged than would have been the case without persecution, it is alleged.

The report estimates that more than half of the potential production of peregrine falcons was lost at grouse moor sites in the South-East and human interference affected a fifth of the peregrine breeding population in Central Scotland.

It concludes that the illegal persecution of raptors in many parts of Scotland is widespread.

Proposals for stronger enforcement methods from the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime will be considered by the Scottish Parliament.