The British Embassy in Washington DC has been forced to defend the Scottish government after the row over a council's Israel boycott reached the US Senate.
Senator Mark Kirk welcomed the embassy's move to distance the devolved parliament from West Dunbartonshire's ban on Israeli goods.
After receiving complaints from residents in his Illinois state, Republican Mr Kirk contacted the embassy for clarification.
In a brief statement it responded: "The Scottish government does not advocate boycotting Israeli goods."
