Quito, November 26 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The Electoral Mission of UNASUR, the Union of South American Nations, has condemned the death of a Venezuelan leader of an opposition party and asked for an investigation into his death.

"The UNASUR Electoral Mission in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, upon learning of the unfortunate death of Luis Manuel Diaz, Secretary General of Democratic Action (AD) in the state of Guarico, expresses its most energetic rejection of all kinds of violence that could affect the normal development of the electoral process," read the text published on the regional bloc’s website.

Diaz was killed on Wednesday during a campaign rally in the town of Altagracia de Orituco where he was speaking during an election campaign event to supporters of candidate Rumi Olivo.

The head of the AD party, Henry Ramos, wrote on Twitter that Diaz had been murdered by a shotgun and claimed Diaz was shot "by armed PSUV gangs from a vehicle," referring to the ruling Unified Socialist Party of Venezuela.

Police and officials have yet to identify the assailants or motives.  This is the only election-related fatality reported so far ahead of Venezuela’s national assembly elections on Dec. 6. Following the country’s municipal and regional elections in December 2013, 43 people died in violent opposition demonstrations and blockades.
      
In recent years, there has been an escalation of targeted political violence directed especially at prominent government leaders and activists.  In October 2014, 27-year-old Socialist legislator Robert Serra was killed in his house, along with an aide.  During the last decade and a half, hundreds of indigenous, land, and union activists have also been murdered by hired killers.