Presidential candidate shot dead

Ecuadorian presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, has been shot dead by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Villavicencio, a former journalist, was gunned down outside a high school in Quito after speaking to young supporters on Wednesday, August 9.

Footage shared on social media of the shooting shows the politician walking out of the event surrounded by guards, escorting him through a crowd of people gathered outside, chanting and applauding.

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Mr Villavicencio is then seen being ushered into the backseat of a waiting, white truck – moments before the gunfire rings out and the rear passenger door shuts.

More than a dozen gunshots can be heard – as well as shouts and screams as people run and duck for cover.

Villavicencio was one of eight candidates in the August 20 presidential vote, though not the frontrunner.