LONDON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Scotland's former First Minister Alex Salmond has passed away at the age of 69, local media reported on Saturday.

Salmond took ill and collapsed while giving a speech in North Macedonia earlier today, according to the BBC. So far, the cause of his death has not yet been officially disclosed.

His passing was described as sudden and unexpected. Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, told local media that the news of Salmond's passing came "as a shock to all who knew him in Scotland, across the UK (the United Kingdom) and beyond."

Salmond, a former member of Parliament, served as Scotland's first minister between 2007 and 2014.

He led the Scottish National Party (SNP) to power after winning the Scottish Parliament election in 2007. A passionate advocate for Scottish independence, he resigned as first minister after 55 percent of Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK in the 2014 referendum.

In 2021, he formed the pro-independence Alba Party, following his resignation from the SNP three years earlier.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid his tribute to Salmond, calling him a "monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics" who leaves behind a "lasting legacy." Enditem

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