IN PICTURES: People in Ecuador are gathering in Quito's Plaza Grande to show solidarity with the families of the three kidnapped journalists confirmed murdered on Thursday.
Journalist Javier Ortega, photographer Paul Rivas and driver Efrain Segarra were kidnapped in Ecuador's northern border with Colombia on March 26. Just over two weeks later, the country has been shocked by news of their executions.
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Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno confirmed Friday that the three kidnapped El Comercio journalists had been executed.
Photo:Centro de Comunicación Popular Nuestroamericano
Dozens gathered outside the presidential palace in Quito, Ecuador's capital, to show solidarity with the families and friends of the victims.
Photo:EFE
Thursday night, after multiple unconfirmed reports of the executions had emerged, supporters held a vigil in Quito.
Photo:EFE
Demonstrators are demanding the killings be investigated fully, with truth and transparency of paramount importance.
Photo:Centro de Comunicación Popular Nuestroamericano
Colombian journalists release balloons in Plaza de Nariño de Pasto to demand that the governments of Ecuador and Colombia "tell the truth" about what happened to the team of Ecuadorean journalists.
Photo:EFE
Ecuador's President Moreno said the state's security operations will resume in the north border and announced the Colombian defense minister is in the country to coordinate actions in the northern border.
Photo:Centro de Comunicación Popular Nuestroamericano
Late Thursday, Ecuador's free speech advocacy group Fundamedios posted on Twitter that it had "received photographs from a Colombian media outlet related to the situation of the kidnapped journalistic team. We have made the authorities and the families aware, and we are waiting for any official confirmation."
Photo:EFE