Chandigarh, Jul 8 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday expressed shock over the assassination of Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe and said he was a close ally of India who advocated cordial relationship between the two nations.

"Deeply saddened and shocked by the untimely tragic demise of former PM of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe. He was a close ally of India who advocated cordial relationship between both countries. The people of Japan have lost a true statesman of global stature. Rest in peace," Khattar tweeted.

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Abe died after being shot during a campaign speech on Friday in western Japan, according to NHK public television.

The 67-year-old former prime minister was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech in Nara.

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Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of the attack.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)