3 hours ago
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PA Media
Preparations are nether mode to nonstop Alex Salmond's assemblage location to Aberdeen.
His coffin volition beryllium draped successful a Saltire and enactment connected a chartered formation from Ohrid Airport successful North Macedonia.
The backstage plane, paid for by Scottish businessman and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, is scheduled to depart astatine 10:00 BST onshore astatine Aberdeen Airport by 14:00 BST.
The erstwhile archetypal curate was astatine an Academy for Cultural Diplomacy league erstwhile helium had a bosom onslaught during luncheon with different delegates connected Saturday afternoon.
Paramedics were called and attempts were made to revive him utilizing CPR, but failed. He died property 69.
The Salmond household and Kenny MacAskill, who has taken implicit arsenic person of the Alba Party, volition greet the coffin upon arrival.
A cortege volition past depart for the Salmonds' household location successful Strichen, Aberdeenshire.
A backstage household ceremonial volition past beryllium held. The day has not been confirmed.
A nationalist memorial volition travel astatine a aboriginal date.
Alex Salmond's woman Moira, his sisters Margaret and Gail, his member Bob and his nieces and nephews released a connection aft his decease which praised him arsenic "a devoted and loving husband, a fiercely loyal brother, a arrogant and thoughtful uncle and a faithful and trusted friend".
MacAskill said it brought a large woody of comfortableness to Moira Salmond and her household to cognize that the erstwhile archetypal curate would soon instrumentality home.
He added: "The household person asked that their privateness beryllium respected astatine this clip and volition beryllium making an announcement successful owed people astir the ceremonial arrangements and a memorial work to honour the beingness of Alex Salmond."
MacAskill besides expressed the Salmond family's appreciation to the North Macedonian, Scottish and UK governments for their assistance.
Salmond died astatine a edifice successful Macedonia connected Saturday
A backstage level arrived successful North Macedonia connected Thursday to bring Salmond's assemblage location to Scotland
Sir Tom, whose concern was erstwhile valued astatine much than £1bn, said helium was apolitical and disagreed with Salmond connected immoderate of his ambitions, but that fixed helium devoted his beingness to Scotland helium "deserved the dignity and privateness of a backstage return" home.
First Minister John Swinney has lodged a question of condolence astatine Holyrood, portion books of condolence person been opened successful the Scottish Parliament for MSPs and members of the nationalist to permission messages.
A Scottish authorities spokesperson said: "Over the past fewer days, the Scottish authorities and UK authorities person been engaging with Alex Salmond's household and moving intimately unneurotic successful accordance with their wishes, to guarantee the swift and dignified repatriation of the erstwhile archetypal curate to Scotland."
They added: "The Scottish authorities continues to prosecute with Mr Salmond's family, and we basal acceptable to connection further proposal and support, should it beryllium required."
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