President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has signed the book of condolences opened at the Japanese Embassy in the Maldives in memory of the late former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinizo Abe.

President Solih signed the book of condolences opened in memory of the late former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinizo Abe, on Tuesday.

In his message, the President described Shinzo Abe as an extraordinary and visionary leader who elevated Japan to new levels of development and prosperity on a global scale.

President Solih also noted that he was cherished by the Maldivian people as he was a close friend and ally of the country.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving leader, died on July 8, 2022, hours after he was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election, shocking a country in which political violence is rare and guns are tightly controlled.

A man opened fire on Abe, 67, from behind with an apparently homemade gun as he spoke at a drab traffic island in the western city of Nara, Japanese media reported.

It was the first assassination of a sitting or former Japanese premier since the days of prewar militarism in 1936.

Doctors struggled to save Abe but he died at 5:03 p.m. (0803 GMT), about five and a half hours after being shot.

He bled to death from two deep wounds, one on the right side of his neck, a doctor told a nationally televised news conference. The former leader had no vital signs when he was taken-in.

Speaking before Abe's death was announced, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the shooting in the "strongest terms" while Japanese people and world leaders expressed shock.

"This attack is an act of brutality that happened during the elections - the very foundation of our democracy - and is absolutely unforgivable," said Kishida, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Police said a 41-year-old man suspected of carrying out the shooting had been arrested. NHK quoted the suspect, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, as telling police he was dissatisfied with Abe and wanted to kill him.