Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland and one of the most prominent figures in the Scottish independence movement, died on Saturday, Reuters reported.

Salmond, 69, who headed the semi-autonomous Scottish government for seven years from 2007, is credited with building support for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom to record levels during the 2014 referendum campaign.

Support for independence rose from 14% when he became leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) to almost 50% in 2014.

Scots, however, eventually voted 55%-45% in favour of staying in the UK.

A source in the SNP, which Salmond led for about two decades, confirmed his death. The cause was not immediately clear.

The BBC reported that the former MP and MSP took ill while in North Macedonia.

It is understood he collapsed after delivering a speech at an international conference on Saturday.

After leaving the SNP in 2018, Salmond set up Alba, an alternative independence supporting party, of which he was the leader.

Alba has approached the UK foreign office for help in returning Mr Salmond’s body to the UK.

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf said he and Salmond had “obviously had our differences in the last few years”, but praised the “enormous contribution he made to Scottish and UK politics”.

Yousaf also said Salmond had helped to “transform the SNP into the dominant political force it is today”.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer described Salmond as being a “monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics”.

Starmer said: “For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics. He leaves behind a lasting legacy.

“As first minister of Scotland he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented as MP and MSP over many years of service.

“My thoughts are with those who knew him, his family and his loved ones. On behalf of the UK government, I offer them our condolences today.”

Alba Party deputy leader Kenny MacAskill said Salmond “was the outstanding Scottish politician not just of his generation but for generations far before”.

Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry said Salmond was “an inspiration and a loyal friend.”

She said: “He was one of the most talented politicians of his generation, and, by any measure, the finest first minister our country has had.

“He changed the face of Scottish politics.”

Salmond’s former colleague Alex Neil, who served as health secretary and social justice secretary in the Scottish government, called Salmond a “titan of Scottish and British politics”.

Speaking to the BBC, Neil said: “He put us very firmly in the moderate left, and brought the SNP into the mainstream. By being in the mainstream then people were prepared to listen more to our reasoning on independence.”

Veteran Scottish politician Jim Sillars wrote in the Glasgow Herald: “Alex’s untimely death has an important consequence.

“His case against the Scottish government, if it had gone to court would have flushed out the evidence he had, his lawyer has, Police Scotland has, the Crown Office has, of the malicious actions taken against him that saw him face the daily humiliation of being prosecuted in the High Court, with extreme damage to his reputation despite a jury finding him not guilty on nine charges.

“Those who know, know that it was all unnecessary.’