The new SNP leader has said Scots independence is "inevitable".

Speaking two days after being elected to his second spell in charge of the nationalist party on Friday, Alex Salmond said separation from the UK would take place.

The Westminster MP, elected by a landslide majority of the party membership, said it was "as inevitable as anything can be in politics".

"The realistic way towards Scottish independence is to form an administration in the Scottish parliament and ask the people in a democratic referendum whether they would like to move on to Scottish independence," he told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme.

Having voluntarily stepped down as leader after 10 years in 2000, as well as quitting the Edinburgh parliament, Salmond said he had returned to replace John Swinney because of the prospect of a "team leadership" with new deputy and Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon.

"This time I am back and I am back as a team player," he said.

"It is a novelty for me but it will be even better.

"The SNP's had a few knocks. But we're still the second party in Scottish politics. Our task is to become the first party.

"Hopefully, we can make progress at next year's general election and we can win the Scottish elections in 2007."