Gunned down for fighting the mob

Terror at political rally as candidate who promised reform is murdered

- owen conlon

AN Ecuadorian candidate known for speaking up against cartels and corruption was gunned down as he left a political rally.

Fernando Villavicencio, who had spoken about receiving death threats from organised crime in the past, had just got into a white pickup truck outside a stadium in the capital Quito when gunshots began to ring out.

Witnesses said around 30 rounds were fired by his assassins, one of whom was shot and killed by police.

A grenade the hit team threw to cover their exit did not explode and was later destroyed in a controlled detonation.

The murder was claimed by Ecuador's biggest crime gang, Los Lobos (The Wolves), who claimed that they had given Villavicencio "millions", but he had not upheld his promises. The claim was denounced as an attempt by the gang to damage the dead father of five's reputation.

The murder of Villavicencio came minutes after he promised a roaring crowd that he would root out corruption and lock up the country's "thieves".