By Andrew Black Political reporter BBC Scotland news website

The eyes of the world were literally on Alex Salmond as he launched the 2007 Holyrood election manifesto for his Scottish National Party.

A clock counted down the days until the election

The stage was set for his arrival and, at either side, two large plasma screens displayed a clock ticking downwards - displaying in days, hours, minutes and seconds the time left until election day.

The air was thick with chatter and anticipation of what was to come, as well as the musical strains of something which would not have been out of place in the hit Holywood film Braveheart.

On one side of the modern Edinburgh auditorium sat the SNP party faithful, with various members of the media on the other - and through the great divide in the middle walked Mr Salmond to a standing ovation.

After a brief introduction from deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon, he got down to work with his speech, outlining a manifesto which he described as a "programme of government" and, of course, brief mention of the Scottish independence referendum.

After Mr Salmond's opening remarks, in a lecture theatre at Napier University's Craiglockhart Campus, it was on to questions from journalists, which included reporters from Japan and Germany in their number.

But there was no display of the sharp tone the SNP leader had sometimes taken in the past while responding to awkward questions from members of the press.

Mr Salmond wants to take Scotland forward to independence

Mr Salmond's buoyant mood also extended to possible future dealings with a Gordon Brown-led UK government, were he to be elected First Minister of Scotland, saying he would deal with Westminster in an "extremely polite and co-operative way".

Watching the MP's performance at the manifesto launch, one could not help recalling events at a hotel on the outskirts of Aberdeen in July 2004, where Mr Salmond joined, and later won, the race to lead the SNP for a second time.

Just the month before he had responded to questions on a possible bid by stating: "If nominated I'll decline. If drafted I'll defer. And if elected I'll resign."

But he took the top job once more after saying he "changed my mind", immediately exerting his authority as leader.

So who is Alex Salmond's boss?