Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has been charged with two counts of attempted rape and multiple counts of sexual assault.

He has been charged over 14 allegations, Scotland's prosecuting office said, including two attempted rapes, nine sexual assaults, two indecent assaults and one breach of the peace.

Salmond said he was "innocent of any criminality whatsoever" as he appeared in court in Edinburgh after being arrested and charged by police.

He added: "The only thing I can say is I refute, absolutely, these allegations of criminality and I'll defend myself to the utmost in court.

"I've got great faith in the court system in Scotland... that is where I will state my case."


Image: Alex Salmond appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday afternoon

In an earlier statement, Police Scotland said: "We can confirm a 64 year-old man has been arrested and charged and a report has been sent to the procurator fiscal."

Salmond also told reporters outside the Edinburgh Sheriff Court that he had attended a police station on Wednesday.

"I was released on condition that I came to the court today to face the charges against me - that I have now done," he said.

Salmond won a case earlier this month against the Scottish government over the handling of its investigation into misconduct complaints, which a court said was "procedurally unfair and... tainted with apparent bias".

The 64-year-old served two terms as SNP leader, totalling more than 20 years, and was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014.