LONDON, Oct 13, (AP): Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotland’s independence from the UK and nearly accomplished it, has died. He was 69. Salmond, who was one of the most divisive figure in British politics at the turn of the century and who as the then leader of the Scottish National Party took Scotland to the brink of independence in the 2014 referendum, died in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid, local media reported.

"Unfortunately, Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who was one of the panellists at yesterday’s cultural diplomacy forum that was held in Ohrid, died suddenly today," according to a statement from the office of former North Macedonia President Gjorgje Ivanov. Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, led by King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla.

"My wife and I are greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Alex Salmond,” the king said. "His devotion to Scotland drove his decades of public service.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party called him a "monumental figure" of both Scottish and British politics. "He leaves behind a lasting legacy,” Starmer said.

"As first minister of Scotland, he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented.” Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000, and from 2004 to 2014. Salmond led the independence campaign in the referendum in 2014, but lost, gaining 45% of the vote, and subsequently resigned from the top job and replaced by his long-time ally, Nicola Sturgeon.

Their subsequent split dominated Scottish politics for years. "Obviously, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try," Sturgeon said after learning of Salmond's death. "However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life. He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in U.K politics.”