A candidate in Ecuador's upcoming presidential election has been shot dead.
Fernando Villavicencio, a member of the country's national assembly, was attacked after an event in the northern city of Quito on Wednesday.
A member of his campaign team told local media Mr Villavicencio was about to get into a car when a man stepped forward and shot him in the head.
The death was confirmed on social media by current president Guillermo Lasso.
The presidential election is scheduled to take place on 20 August.
Mr Lasso said he was "outraged and shocked" by the killing and pledged that "this crime will not go unpunished".
"Organized crime has come a long way, but the full weight of the law is going to fall on them," he said.
A recent rise in violent crime, fuelled by the growing presence of drug cartels in Ecuador, has been a central issue in the presidential campaign.
Last week, Mr Villavicencio, a former journalist, said he and his team had been threatened by the leader of a gang linked to drug trafficking.
His killing follows that of Agustín Intriago, mayor of the city of Manta, in July and Omar Menéndez, candidate for mayor in the city of Puerto López, in February.
Latest Stories
-
Saudi Arabia postpones execution of Kenyan man
27 mins -
Teenage winger Yamal nets opener as Barca beats Sociedad
34 mins -
Inside StarLife Assurance: A perspective of excellence through internship
58 mins -
Postecoglou says ‘100% of fans’ want to beat Man City
1 hour -
Kidnapped Nigerian university students rescued
1 hour -
Cashew value chain actors in Africa undergo training in Sunyani
1 hour -
Limited Voters Registration: Police arrest 2 for attempting to register twice
1 hour -
Female judges key to eradication of negative cultural practices – Akufo-Addo
1 hour -
Brag: Ghanaian rappers roast Nigerian rapper on behalf of Sarkodie
1 hour -
Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor appointed as UPSA’s new Vice Chancellor
1 hour -
Sixteen killed as fighting intensifies for major Sudan city
1 hour -
Why an Ethiopian community buried lightning survivors
2 hours -
Aston Villa salvage draw with Liverpool after thrilling comeback
2 hours -
SML Deal: MFWA to petition RTI Commission over presidency’s refusal to grant request
2 hours -
A robust human rights protection regime an incentive for investment – Chief Justice
2 hours