Anti-corruption Ecuadorian presidential candidate assassinated at campaign event

Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio speaks during a campaign event minutes before he was shot to death (API via AP)

An Ecuadorian presidential candidate known for speaking up against cartels and corruption has been shot and killed at a political rally.

President Guillermo Lasso confirmed the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio and suggested organised crime was behind his killing, less than two weeks before the presidential election on August 20.