Ecuadoran President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency for 60 days throughout the country on Thursday after the shooting murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

"The Armed Forces as of this moment are mobilized throughout the national territory to guarantee the security of citizens, the tranquility of the country and the free and democratic elections of August 20," Lasso said in an address broadcast on YouTube.

-Villavicencio shot dead after rally-

Villavicencio was shot dead after holding a rally in Quito on Wednesday evening, top officials said.

Lasso blamed Villavicencio's death on "organized crime" in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio," he said.

"For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished."

The 59-year-old centrist was one of eight candidates in the first round of the country's presidential election scheduled for August 20.

Villavicencio was killed as he was leaving a stadium in northern Quito after holding a campaign rally, officials said.

The country's main newspaper, El Universo, reported that he was assassinated "hitman-style and with three shots to the head."

Earlier this month, Villavicencio had complained that he and his team were receiving threats.