OREANDA-NEWS The current President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, confirmed the information previously spread by the media about the murder of the presidential candidate of Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio.

Lasso wrote on social networks that he was "outraged and shocked" by what had happened and assured that "this crime will not go unpunished."

He informed that he had called an urgent meeting on security issues to discuss what had happened.

Earlier, CNN reported that Villavicencio was shot dead at a political rally as part of an election campaign.

CNN notes that seven of the eight participants in the presidential race, including Villavicencio, were under police protection. The murdered politician represented the "Building Ecuador" movement.

According to the Associated Press, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ecuador reported that the suspect in the murder died from injuries sustained during the shootout.

In turn, the Organization of American States, in a statement issued by the election observation mission, called for ensuring their security.

The first round of presidential elections in Ecuador is scheduled for August 20.