Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced on Thursday a state of emergency across the country for 60 days in connection with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
"I am declaring a state of emergency for 60 days ... From now on, the armed forces are mobilized throughout the country to guarantee the security of citizens, the tranquility of the country and free and democratic elections," Lasso said in an address to the nation.
The president also declared three days of national mourning in connection with the assassination of the presidential candidate.
National Electoral Council head Diana Atamaint, in her turn, stated that the date of the presidential election in Ecuador set for August 20 will not change.
El Universo newspaper reported on Wednesday that Villavicencio has been killed by three shots to his head during a rally in the country's capital, Quito. Eight more people have been injured during the rally, and seven of them have been taken to a hospital, the report said.
Lasso later confirmed the reports.
"I am outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio ... In his memory and the name of his struggle, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished. The Security Cabinet will meet in a few minutes in the presidential palace," Lasso said.
On Thursday, the number of those injured at the rally increased to nine people, the General Prosecutor's Office of Ecuador said, adding that two police officers and a candidate for the country's parliament were among those wounded.
Meanwhile, the prime suspect of the assassination of Villavicencio died of gunshot wounds received in a shooting during his arrest, the General Prosecutor's Office of Ecuador specified.
"Under legal supervision of #FiscaliaEc [the prosecutor's office], 6 people have been detained (so far) during raids carried out in #Conocoto and #SanBartolo, in #Quito after the murder of #FernandoVillavicencio," the office tweeted.
Moreover, in an hour and a half after the murder of Villavicencio, a bombing squad of the Quito police carried out a controlled explosion of a bomb planted by intruders near the crime scene, local media reported.
Meanwhile, offices of Villavicencio's campaign Construye in Quito were under a series of armed attacks after his assassination, the campaign's representatives told El Universo newspaper.
Several presidential candidates responded to the events by halting their own campaigns to honor the former opponent's memory.
Local media reported that the deceased presidential candidate had received several death threats prior to the assassination.