Former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond died as he opened a bottle of ketchup, a witness has claimed. The Alba Party leader died suddenly in North Macedonia on Saturday aged 69. He had made a speech at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the city of Ohrid before collapsing at lunch in a crowded room.

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has died at 69, according to statements from Scotland’s main political parties and UK media reports.

Scottish former First Minister Alex Salmond has died. Salmond championed Scotland’s independence from the U.K.

The "shock of Alex Salmond's death is reverberating around every corner of UK politics", said Sky News. A "Marmite figure", Salmond certainly "divided opinion", but he was "respected as the giant who was instrumental in delivering the 2014 Scottish independence referendum".

With the death of Scotland’s former first minister, the need for a new independence movement is clearer than ever, writes Adam Ramsay.

Mr. Salmond had led the Scottish National Party twice, guiding it from a fringe political group into a powerful electoral force in Britain.

Alex Salmond, who turned his Scottish National Party’s dream of power into reality even though he didn’t see his vision of an independent country come true, has died. He was 69.

The body of Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former first minister who died during a conference in North Macedonia, will soon be returned by special flight to Scotland