*SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT REJECTS UK'S BREXIT BILL*

EDINBURGH : The Scottish Parliament on Tuesday formally rejected legislation for taking Britain out of the EU, in an unprecedented move that-

*Sets the scene for a constitutional crisis*.

Lawmakers in the devolved Edinburgh assembly voted by 93 to 30 to refuse ''legislative consent'' for the highly-contested European Union {Withdrawal} Bill currently being debated by the British Parliament.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is under no obligation to amend her Brexit plan in response to  Holyrood's objection.

However, experts warn that confrontation between London and Edinburgh could push Scotland towards independence.

Scottish First Minister Nicolu Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party {SNP}, said Britain was heading into ''uncharted constitutional territory''.

The dispute centres on who will have control of powers currently residing in Brussels, such as over  farming and fisheries, once the Britain leaves the EU.

Scotland's SNP government wants such powers to be under Scottish control, while the Conservative British government argues they should reside in London, at least initially.

Michael Ruusell, the Scottish government's chief Brexit negotiator, said any attempt to use Brexit to restrict the powers of the Scottish Parliament ''will be noted here and across Europe.''

''The UK government cannot ignore the reality of devolution or try to drown out what this Parliament says,'' he said.

''They cannot pretend that no motion has been passed.

''It will be the UK that would be breaking the trust, and breaking the rules, not us.''

Russel has invited British cabinet minister David Lidington to Scotland for last-ditch cross-party talks to break the impasse.