Six Colombians were arrested in Ecuador late yesterday in connection with the killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio a day earlier. Villavicencio, a well-known anti-corruption crusader, was shot dead as he left a campaign event in the capital city. A 7th suspect was killed in a shootout with police following the assassination. The ‘Los Lobos’ gang has taken responsibility for this killing which has been described as a "political crime of a terrorist nature" aimed at sabotaging the August 20 presidential election. The Ecuadorian government has said that although the assassination was an attempt to sabotage the election, the vote will nevertheless go ahead. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has declared a two-month state of emergency after the incident apart from declaring three days of mourning. The question which now what does this assassination mean for Ecuador.

#Fernandovillvicencio #Ecuadoremergenc #Ecuador
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