大象传媒

The presidential election campaign in Ecuador has taken a tragic turn - as a candidate in the upcoming poll has been killed at a rally in the capital, Quito.

Witnesses say Fernando Villavicencio was shot three times in the head by unknown gunmen. One of the suspected attackers was also killed.

Mr Villavicencio, a former journalist, had talked intensively in his campaign about corruption and Ecuador's security issues. Cristina Munoz, a journalist in Ecuador, described to Newsday what happened.

"He was driven to the nearest hospital where he was declared dead. There are more questions than answers. He was a right wing politician. According to some pollsters he was competing for second place. Ecuadoreans are shocked."

(Pic: Fernando Villavicencio; Credit: Reuters)