Better Together should not be giving Police Scotland advice about how to run their referendum day operation, Alex Salmond has said.
The First Minister condemned abuse thrown at the likes of Labour MP Jim Murphy during his tour of Tayside and Fife but accused the campaign for a No vote of talking up the incidents in a way the Yes side has not.
His words sparked a furious response from Better Together.
Mr Salmond said: “I think the No campaign have taken leave of their senses. The police force of Scotland is well able, and infinitely experienced in such matters, to make sure that polling is conducted in that carnival atmosphere and the proper way.
“They really don’t need advice from Alistair Darling about how to do their job.”
He added: “I condemn all bad behaviour. The difference with Mr Murphy is when people are convicted of death threats against me or the Deputy First Minister I don’t accuse the No campaign of being behind it.
“When somebody tries to use their car as a political weapon, I don’t say it was orchestrated by the No campaign.
“When a Yes supporter gets assaulted on the streets of Glasgow I don’t say it is the work of the No campaign.
“It is the knowledge and realisation there will be a few idiots in any society at any time. The mark of this campaign is that 99.9% of the country is engaged in a magnificent way.”
He also said Mr Murphy should “have a look at himself in terms of how he behaves” and talked up Jim Sillars’ method of town-to-town campaigning.
A Better Together spokesman said: “The co-ordinated attempts by nationalists to silence the quiet majority who support a No vote simply won’t work.
“Scots will not be bullied or intimidated. That’s why so many are saying no thanks to independence.”