Image: RPP

Quito, Aug 10 (RHC) Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso called for an urgent meeting of the Security Cabinet this evening following the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

"Outraged and dismayed", this is what the president said in his social networks after the event occurred around 18:20 (local time).

Lasso expressed his solidarity and condolences to the wife and daughters of the politician, who was killed as he was leaving a campaign rally in northern Quito, despite the extreme security he was counting on.

This crime will not go unpunished, said the governor who summoned the Security Cabinet and other authorities such as the president of the National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint; the Attorney General of the State, Diana Salazar; and the president of the National Court of Justice, Ivan Saquicela.

Organized crime has gone too far, but the full weight of the law will be applied to them, said the chief executive. Ecuador is experiencing an insecurity crisis and political violence has become frequent with attacks on officials and candidates for public office. (Source: Prensa Latina).