Villavicencio's murder on Wednesday afternoon, after concluding a rally in the capital, shocked the country in the midst of an unprecedented escalation of insecurity and political violence.

New York, Aug 11 (RHC) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday rejected the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and called it a threat to democracy.

Attacks of this nature represent a serious threat to democracy, and those responsible must be brought to justice, he said in a message released in New York, headquarters of the world body.

Guterres expressed his solidarity with the government and people of Ecuador, especially with Villavicencio's family.

He also recalled his most recent meeting with Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso, in which they discussed the deterioration of security in Ecuador, the impact of organized crime and the need to intensify national and international efforts to combat it.

"The United Nations will continue to support the Ecuadorian authorities in addressing the violence with full respect for international human rights principles and standards," the text concludes.

Villavicencio's murder on Wednesday afternoon, after concluding a rally in the capital, shocked the country in the midst of an unprecedented escalation of insecurity and political violence.

Following the news, Lasso urgently summoned the Security Cabinet and decided to decree a 60-day national state of emergency.

So far there are six detainees linked to the crime, and another of the suspects died last night at the headquarters of the Flagrancy Unit of the Prosecutor's Office. (Source: Prensa Latina).