Yangon, Jan 30 (IANS): Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party on Monday condemned the assassination of its legal adviser U Ko Ni and called for the arrest of the mastermind behind the plot.

The NLD said the death of U Ko Ni was an irreparable loss to the party, and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi denounced the assassination as a terrorist act by those opposed to the NLD, Xinhua news agency reported.

U Ko Ni was gunned down at point-blank range at a taxi stand near terminal-1 of Yangon International Airport on Sunday afternoon upon his return from Indonesia.

The gunman also killed a taxi driver who had tried to capture him before he was arrested by the police and bystanders.

The NLD, led by Suu Kyi, vowed to continue implementing the party's political ideals.

U Ko Ni was a prominent practicing lawyer and consulted various clients for the past four decades. He established the Laurel Law Firm in 1995.