BUENOS AIRES, August 10. /TASS/. A group of unidentified suspects have assassinated Ecuador’s presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio following his campaign speech, El Universo daily reported on Thursday.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso later confirmed the death of Villavicencio adding that the country’s Security Council would gather for a meeting shortly on this issue.

"For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished," Lasso said on his account on the X social network (formerly known as Twitter).

El Universo daily reported that presidential candidate Villavicencio was killed with three gun shots in the head. The daily also reported that according to unconfirmed information, the assassination was carried out by a group of unidentified suspects and at least seven people sustained wounds in the assault.

Early presidential and parliamentary elections in Ecuador were scheduled for August 20. According to polls, Villavicencio was ranked 4th-5th among other candidates in the presidential run.

President Lasso called for holding the elections in May urging to dissolve of the parliament. According to him, he resorted to this step because lawmakers were obstructing the government from carrying out reforms. Lasso, whose term presidential term expires in 2025, announced earlier a decision against running in the upcoming elections.