Ecuador has extended the state of emergency that has been in effect since the August assassination of presidential candidate and anti-graft crusader Fernando Villavicencio by one month.
The extension comes only days after seven Colombians detained in connection with Villavicencio's death were discovered dead in prison.
Six accused were killed Friday in the Guayas 1 prison in the port city of Guayaquil, and a seventh was discovered dead Saturday in a prison in Quito.
The government "guarantees the participation of the Armed Forces and the Police in the fight against organised and common crime," President Guillermo Lasso's communications office announced on X, formerly Twitter.
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Lasso declared a "reorganisation" of the country's police hierarchy on Saturday, removing the force's general commander, investigations chief, and prisons director.
His office also stated that it would submit a criminal complaint against the superintendent of the Guayaquil prison, where the detainees were reported to have died as a result of "disturbances."
The death of Villavicencio, a moderate who had been polling second, stunned Ecuador just days before the August 20 national elections, which focused on corruption and the country's deteriorating security situation.
Six Colombians with lengthy criminal backgrounds were apprehended shortly after, and one was slain at the scene. Authorities apprehended seven more people a few days later.
The suspects were killed just over a week before the runoff election on October 15 between leftist leader Luisa Gonzalez and challenger Daniel Noboa.
The 59-year-old was assassinated just ten days before the first round of the presidential election.
VIDEO: The moment Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated https://t.co/eS9LaNYZcD
— BNO News (@BNONews) August 10, 2023
