THE VENEZUELAN opposition figure murdered at an election rally on Wednesday had links to organised crime and was probably killed by rival gangsters, media sources have claimed.

Democratic Action (AD) Guarico state secretary Luis Manuel Diaz was shot dead in Altagracia de Orituco after a rally for his party.

AD general secretary Henry Ramos tweeted just minutes later that Mr Diaz was killed by members of the ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) — with no apparent evidence to back the claim.