LONDON (AP) Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotlands independence from the U.K. 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 yesterdays 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.