Legal advisor of Myanmar's ruling party assassinated at Yangon Int'l Airport

Legal advisor of Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party U Ko Ni was shot dead on Sunday at about 5 p.m. local time, at Yangon International Airport, U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of President's Office, told Xinhua.

Holding his grandson, U Ko Ni was shot at a close distance by a gunman at the airport's taxi stand near arrival terminal 1.

The gunman was instantly arrested by police.

A taxi driver was also shot dead while helping capture the gunman.

The investigations are underway by local authorities. According to investigations, the gunman is named as U Kyi Lin and was a resident in Mandalay region, holding citizen card.

U Ko Ni returned from Indonesia capital Jakarta as a member of Myanmar delegation led by the Minister for Information attending a Senior Leadership program.

U Ko Ni was a prominent practicing lawyer and consulted various clients for past four decades. He has established Laurel Law Firm with two other advocates in 1995 and it has been operating with seven advocates, four high grade pleaders (HGPs) and two members of administrative staff.

(APD)