Ecuadorian presidential candidate assassinated after campaign speech

TASS news agency on August 10 quoted a source from the daily El Universo as saying that a group of unidentified suspects assassinated Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio after his campaign speech.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso later confirmed Mr Villavicencio's death, adding that the country's Security Council would soon meet on the matter.

On his social network account X (formerly known as Twitter), Mr. Lasso affirmed: "In memory of him and in the fight for him, I guarantee that this crime will be punished."

The El Universo daily reported that presidential candidate Villavicencio was assassinated with three shots to the head. The newspaper also said that, according to unconfirmed information, the assassination was carried out by a group of unidentified suspects, and that at least seven others were injured in the attack.

Early parliamentary and presidential elections in Ecuador are scheduled for August 20. According to opinion polls, Mr. Villavicencio is ranked between fourth and fifth among the presidential candidates.

President Lasso had previously called for elections in May, urging the dissolution of the junta.parliament. He said the move was necessary because lawmakers were hindering the government from carrying out reforms. Lasso's term ends in 2025, and the leader had previously announced his decision not to run in the upcoming elections.