Muslim lawyer's killing political

The killing of a top Muslim lawyer and adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi who was gunned down outside Yangon airport was a political assassination and a "terrorist act", Myanmar's ruling party said yesterday.

Ko Ni, a legal adviser to the National League for Democracy, was shot in the head on Sunday afternoon as he waited outside the airport while holding his grandson.

A dramatic photo circulating on social media showed the moment the gunman, standing behind him, took aim.

Police have not said what prompted the killing. But Ko Ni was a prominent Muslim figure who spoke out against the anti-Islamic sentiments of Buddhist hardliners and criticised the powerful military's grip on power.

A taxi driver who tried to stop the gunman was also shot dead before the unidentified attacker was arrested, reported AFP.

In a statement the NLD described him as a key aide to de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying he was "irreplacable".

"We strongly denounce the assassination of Ko Ni like this as it is a terrorist act against the NLD's policies," it said.

Amnesty International and International Crisis Grooup (ICG) have urged Myanmar to investigate the apparent assassination of Ko Ni, reported Reuters.