Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos speaks to WION. Watch video to know more.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos speaks to WION

Conservative candidate Ivan Duque won the first round of Colombia's presidential election&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;but fell short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a runoff next month.

The 41-year-old senator will face former guerrilla Gustavo Petro on&nbsp;June 17, the first leftist candidate to contest a runoff in Colombia.

Duque polled 39.7 per cent of the votes, compared to Petro's 25 per cent, in a poll which showed deep divisions over a peace deal with former rebel movement FARC.

It was the first presidential poll in half a century free of the threat of the FARC, though Duque, 41, has campaigned strongly on a pledge to rewrite a peace agreement with the group.

Polling was "totally normal," said electoral authority chairman Juan Carlos Galindo. Turnout was a higher-than-usual 53.2 per cent in a country traditionally plagued by voter apathy.

The peaceful election was an achievement praised by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos after casting his ballot in Bogota.

Ironically, the peace Santos made with the FARC, which is now a political party, has opened sharp divisions, reflected in the two candidates to succeed him.

Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror in Colombia before transforming itself into a political party.

Duque's pledges to defend private enterprise and introduce tax cuts also won him support.

"I want a country of legality, a full-on fight against corruption, a country where peace can breathe throughout the land," said Duque after casting his ballot in Bogota.

Outside one Bogota polling station, Paula Rubio, 38, said she voted for Duque "to maintain order in the country."

Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, defied expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right.

His total of more than 4.8 million votes is almost double the previous best showing for the left in a presidential election, in 2006.

"It's obviously going to be very polarized in the second round," said analyst Andres Macais, with both sides scrambling to form alliances with defeated candidates.

Conservatives backing Duque have a majority in the Congress after sweeping the legislative elections in March.

Leftist candidates Sergio Fajardo, a former Medellin mayor who polled 23.7 per cent of the vote, and peace negotiator Humberto De la Calle, have previously refused to ally with Petro.

Petro said he wanted a Colombia "present and future" without hatred or vengeance and to leave behind "the machinery of corruption."

The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption, making him the country's first leftist candidate going to the second round of a presidential poll.

"I voted for Petro... who has helped the poor people," said domestic worker Gladys Cortes, 60.

Analysts said turnout could be a key factor in the second round.

"There is an increase in participation, but abstention is still high, we will have to see if it is still possible to move that absentee vote towards Petro. The second round is going to be very close," said analyst Medofilo Medina.

Santos -- who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the 2016 deal with the FARC -- steps down in August.

Duque, a grey-haired senator and former economist, is backed by the Democratic Center party of former president Alvaro Uribe, which swept legislative elections in March. If successful, he can count on the support of Congress.

Uribe fell out with onetime ally Santos over his drive for peace with FARC, setting up his own party in 2013.

Many voters see Uribe's guiding hand behind the inexperienced Duque's campaign. Like Santos, the 65-year-old Uribe is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term.

Colombia, ravaged by corruption and glaring inequality, is still struggling to emerge from the longest armed conflict in the Americas.

The world's leading producer of cocaine, the country continues to battle armed groups vying for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes in areas FARC once dominated.

The peace deal, in effect for little more than a year, remains fragile.&nbsp;

The FARC, now in the form of a political party, did not win much support in March legislative elections, failing to add to the 10 parliamentary seats it was awarded in the peace deal.

"What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity," Duque recently told AFP.

The senator has pledged to eradicate "the cancer of corruption" and to revive a sluggish economy while vowing to defend traditional family values.

Petro's crowds grew steadily as his campaign went on, in what some analysts see as public support for the peace deal and the rehabilitation of FARC as a political party.

"Society has overcome the fear of violence and terror, and what we are seeing today is the political expression of that, filling public places and drawing crowds," Petro told AFP in the final days of his campaign.

The peaceful election was an achievement praised by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos after casting his ballot in Bogota

Conservative candidate Ivan Duque won the first round of Colombia's presidential election Sunday but fell short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a runoff next month. The 41-year-old senator will face former guerrilla Gustavo Petro on June 17, the first leftist candidate to contest a runoff in Colombia. Duque polled 39.7 per cent of the votes, compared to Petro's 25 per cent, in a poll which showed deep divisions over a peace deal with former rebel movement FARC. It was the first presidential poll in half a century free of the threat of the FARC, though Duque, 41, has campaigned strongly on a pledge to rewrite a peace agreement with the group. Polling was "totally normal," said electoral authority chairman Juan Carlos Galindo. Turnout was a higher-than-usual 53.2 per cent in a country traditionally plagued by voter apathy. The peaceful election was an achievement praised by outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos after casting his ballot in Bogota. Ironically, the peace Santos made with the FARC, which is now a political party, has opened sharp divisions, reflected in the two candidates to succeed him. Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror in Colombia before transforming itself into a political party. Duque's pledges to defend private enterprise and introduce tax cuts also won him support. "I want a country of legality, a full-on fight against corruption, a country where peace can breathe throughout the land," said Duque after casting his ballot in Bogota. Outside one Bogota polling station, Paula Rubio, 38, said she voted for Duque "to maintain order in the country." Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, defied expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right. His total of more than 4.8 million votes is almost double the previous best showing for the left in a presidential election, in 2006. "It's obviously going to be very polarized in the second round," said analyst Andres Macais, with both sides scrambling to form alliances with defeated candidates. Conservatives backing Duque have a majority in the Congress after sweeping the legislative elections in March. Leftist candidates Sergio Fajardo, a former Medellin mayor who polled 23.7 per cent of the vote, and peace negotiator Humberto De la Calle, have previously refused to ally with Petro. Petro said he wanted a Colombia "present and future" without hatred or vengeance and to leave behind "the machinery of corruption." The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption, making him the country's first leftist candidate going to the second round of a presidential poll. "I voted for Petro... who has helped the poor people," said domestic worker Gladys Cortes, 60. Analysts said turnout could be a key factor in the second round. "There is an increase in participation, but abstention is still high, we will have to see if it is still possible to move that absentee vote towards Petro. The second round is going to be very close," said analyst Medofilo Medina. Santos -- who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the 2016 deal with the FARC -- steps down in August. Duque, a grey-haired senator and former economist, is backed by the Democratic Center party of former president Alvaro Uribe, which swept legislative elections in March. If successful, he can count on the support of Congress. Uribe fell out with onetime ally Santos over his drive for peace with FARC, setting up his own party in 2013. Many voters see Uribe's guiding hand behind the inexperienced Duque's campaign. Like Santos, the 65-year-old Uribe is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term. Colombia, ravaged by corruption and glaring inequality, is still struggling to emerge from the longest armed conflict in the Americas. The world's leading producer of cocaine, the country continues to battle armed groups vying for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes in areas FARC once dominated. The peace deal, in effect for little more than a year, remains fragile. The FARC, now in the form of a political party, did not win much support in March legislative elections, failing to add to the 10 parliamentary seats it was awarded in the peace deal. "What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity," Duque recently told AFP. The senator has pledged to eradicate "the cancer of corruption" and to revive a sluggish economy while vowing to defend traditional family values. Petro's crowds grew steadily as his campaign went on, in what some analysts see as public support for the peace deal and the rehabilitation of FARC as a political party. "Society has overcome the fear of violence and terror, and what we are seeing today is the political expression of that, filling public places and drawing crowds," Petro told AFP in the final days of his campaign.

Anti-FARC conservative wins in Colombia faces leftist in runoff

Colombians vote Sunday in a divisive presidential election likely to impact on the government's fragile peace deal with the former rebel movement FARC.

Conservative front-runner Ivan Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror on Colombians, before it transformed into a political party.

With 41 per cent of voter preferences, Duque takes a 12 point lead into the election over his main challenger Gustavo Petro, a leftist former Bogota mayor who backs the deal.

Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, has been the surprise package in the campaign, upturning expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right.

The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption, making him the country's first leftist candidate with a chance of going to the second round of a presidential poll.

Neither candidate is believed to have enough momentum to win outright in Sunday's first round, making a runoff likely on June 17.

Santos stepping down

The winner will succeed Juan Manuel Santos -- the president who signed the 2016 deal with the FARC and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize -- when he steps down in August.

"These elections have an enormous significance for a country where hope is reborn, and we must continue to build peace," Santos, 66, said on Twitter as campaigning ended.

Duque, a grey-haired senator and former economist, is backed by the Democratic Center party of former president Alvaro Uribe, which swept the polls in legislative elections in March. If successful, he can count on the support of Congress.

Uribe fell out with once-close ally Santos over his drive for peace with FARC, setting up his own party in 2013.

Many voters see the guiding hand of Uribe behind the inexperienced Duque's campaign. Like Santos, the 65-year-old Uribe is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term.

"If Duque was the candidate of another party, he would not be leading the polls," said analyst Andres Macias of Externado University, highlighting the "great political capital" of the controversial but popular former head of state.

Colombia, ravaged by corruption and glaring inequality, is still struggling to emerge from the longest armed conflict in the Americas.

The world's leading producer of cocaine, the country remains contorted by an ongoing struggle against a slew of armed groups vying for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes in areas once dominated by FARC guerrillas.

No impunity

The peace deal, in effect for little more than a year, remains fragile. The FARC has transformed into a political party which failed to win much public support in March legislative elections, failing to add to the 10 parliamentary seats it was awarded as part of the peace deal.

"What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity," Duque told AFP during campaigning recently.

The young senator has pledged to eradicate "the cancer of corruption" and work to revive a sluggish economy, in campaign speeches which focused on the defense of traditional family values.

Petro drew bigger crowds to his rallies the longer his campaign went on, in what some analysts see as public support for the peace deal and the rehabilitation of FARC as a political party.

"Society has overcome the fear of violence and terror, and what we are seeing today is the political expression of that, filling public places and drawing crowds," Petro told AFP in the final days of his campaign.

Analysts say the men are at opposite ends of the political spectrum and are likely to prevail over the four other candidates, who include former vice president German Vargas Lleras.&nbsp

"Two candidates are clearly in the lead and, except for a surprise or a big error in the polls, Petro and Duque will go to the second round, although there is also the possibility that Petro wins outright," political scientist Nicolas Liendo told AFP.

The country's last active rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), has announced a ceasefire for the polls. Nevertheless, security has been tightened, with 150,000 troops being deployed.

Polls are due to open at 8:00 am (1300 GMT) and close at 4:00 pm.

Conservative front-runner Ivan Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror on Colombians, before it transformed into a political party

Colombians vote Sunday in a divisive presidential election likely to impact on the government's fragile peace deal with the former rebel movement FARC. Conservative front-runner Ivan Duque has vowed to rewrite an accord he sees as too lenient on a group that waged a decades-long war of terror on Colombians, before it transformed into a political party. With 41 per cent of voter preferences, Duque takes a 12 point lead into the election over his main challenger Gustavo Petro, a leftist former Bogota mayor who backs the deal. Petro, a former member of the disbanded M-19 rebel group, has been the surprise package in the campaign, upturning expectations in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been the domain of the right. The 58-year-old rallied many Colombians with his campaign speeches against inequality and corruption, making him the country's first leftist candidate with a chance of going to the second round of a presidential poll. Neither candidate is believed to have enough momentum to win outright in Sunday's first round, making a runoff likely on June 17. Santos stepping down The winner will succeed Juan Manuel Santos -- the president who signed the 2016 deal with the FARC and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize -- when he steps down in August. "These elections have an enormous significance for a country where hope is reborn, and we must continue to build peace," Santos, 66, said on Twitter as campaigning ended. Duque, a grey-haired senator and former economist, is backed by the Democratic Center party of former president Alvaro Uribe, which swept the polls in legislative elections in March. If successful, he can count on the support of Congress. Uribe fell out with once-close ally Santos over his drive for peace with FARC, setting up his own party in 2013. Many voters see the guiding hand of Uribe behind the inexperienced Duque's campaign. Like Santos, the 65-year-old Uribe is constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term. "If Duque was the candidate of another party, he would not be leading the polls," said analyst Andres Macias of Externado University, highlighting the "great political capital" of the controversial but popular former head of state. Colombia, ravaged by corruption and glaring inequality, is still struggling to emerge from the longest armed conflict in the Americas. The world's leading producer of cocaine, the country remains contorted by an ongoing struggle against a slew of armed groups vying for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes in areas once dominated by FARC guerrillas. No impunity The peace deal, in effect for little more than a year, remains fragile. The FARC has transformed into a political party which failed to win much public support in March legislative elections, failing to add to the 10 parliamentary seats it was awarded as part of the peace deal. "What we Colombians want is that those who have committed crimes against humanity be punished by proportional penalties, which is incompatible with political representation, so that there is no impunity," Duque told AFP during campaigning recently. The young senator has pledged to eradicate "the cancer of corruption" and work to revive a sluggish economy, in campaign speeches which focused on the defense of traditional family values. Petro drew bigger crowds to his rallies the longer his campaign went on, in what some analysts see as public support for the peace deal and the rehabilitation of FARC as a political party. "Society has overcome the fear of violence and terror, and what we are seeing today is the political expression of that, filling public places and drawing crowds," Petro told AFP in the final days of his campaign. Analysts say the men are at opposite ends of the political spectrum and are likely to prevail over the four other candidates, who include former vice president German Vargas Lleras. "Two candidates are clearly in the lead and, except for a surprise or a big error in the polls, Petro and Duque will go to the second round, although there is also the possibility that Petro wins outright," political scientist Nicolas Liendo told AFP. The country's last active rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), has announced a ceasefire for the polls. Nevertheless, security has been tightened, with 150,000 troops being deployed. Polls are due to open at 8:00 am (1300 GMT) and close at 4:00 pm.

Colombia presidential vote poses test for FARC peace deal

Colombia will next week formally become NATO's first Latin American "global partner," President Juan Manuel Santos announced Friday.

Santos, who won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end a half-century of armed conflict with the former rebel movement FARC, said the move would improve Colombia's image on the world stage.

"We will formalize in Brussels next week -- and this is very important -- Colombia's entry into NATO in the category of global partner. We will be the only country in Latin America with this privilege," the president said in a televised address.

In addition to Colombia, NATO lists Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan as "partners across the globe" or simply "global partners."

Each country "has developed an Individual Partnership Cooperation Program" with the 29-country US-led alliance, with many contributing actively to NATO missions.

Colombia and NATO reached a partnership deal in May 2017 following the conclusion of the peace accord with FARC, now a political party.

According to NATO's website areas of cooperation include cyber security, maritime security, terrorism and its links to organized crime, as well as building the capacities and capabilities of the Colombian armed forces.

Colombia will next week formally become NATO's first Latin American 'global partner,' President Juan Manuel Santos announced Friday

Colombia will next week formally become NATO's first Latin American "global partner," President Juan Manuel Santos announced Friday. Santos, who won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end a half-century of armed conflict with the former rebel movement FARC, said the move would improve Colombia's image on the world stage. "We will formalize in Brussels next week -- and this is very important -- Colombia's entry into NATO in the category of global partner. We will be the only country in Latin America with this privilege," the president said in a televised address. In addition to Colombia, NATO lists Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan as "partners across the globe" or simply "global partners." Each country "has developed an Individual Partnership Cooperation Program" with the 29-country US-led alliance, with many contributing actively to NATO missions. Colombia and NATO reached a partnership deal in May 2017 following the conclusion of the peace accord with FARC, now a political party. According to NATO's website areas of cooperation include cyber security, maritime security, terrorism and its links to organized crime, as well as building the capacities and capabilities of the Colombian armed forces.

Colombia to become first Latin American NATO 'global partner'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday backed air strikes by the United States and its allies on Syria's chemical weapons program but Argentina, Brazil and Peru voiced caution during a regional summit about the escalating military action.

Speaking at the Summit of the Americas in Peru, Trudeau and several other Western Hemisphere leaders forcefully condemned the use of chemical weapons, following a suspected poison gas attack last week in a Damascus suburb that killed up to 75 people and sparked international outcry.

Washington blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government for the attack and, together with Britain and France, launched missile strikes overnight on what it said were Syrian chemical weapons facilities.

"Canada stands with our friends in this necessary response and we condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons in last week's attack," Trudeau said in his speech. "Those responsible must be brought to justice."

But the retaliatory action drew pleas for caution from several Latin American countries.

"There's deep concern in Brazil with the escalation of military conflict in Syria," Brazilian President Michel Temer told the summit. "It's time to find permanent solutions based on international law to a war that has been going for far too long and ended too many lives."

Peru, a non-permanent member of the UN&nbsp;Security Council, called for moderation from all parties involved in Syria and said it was working to find a political solution, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri also appealed for greater coordination on Syria "in the framework of existing international commitments", remarks later echoed by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Outside the summit, the strikes drew swift condemnation from left-leaning governments in Bolivia and Cuba, outspoken critics of US&nbsp;influence.

But Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, a close US&nbsp;ally in Latin America, appeared to back Washington as he condemned chemical weapons.

"We support actions to punish their use and seek their total elimination," Santos said.

The Pentagon said the missile strikes in Syria had hit every target. It said the military action was aimed at delivering an unambiguous signal to the Syrian government and deterring the future use of chemical weapons.

The official theme of the Summit of the Americas is the fight against corruption. Many countries in attendance are also expected to condemn a pending election in Venezuela.

But Syria, China and trade loomed over the talks on Saturday as Washington seeks to advance the agenda of U.S. President Donald Trump, which is widely unpopular in the region.

Trump canceled his attendance at the summit to focus on Syria. US Vice President Mike Pence, filling in for him, was expected to discuss Syria in his speech on Saturday and in meetings with heads of state.

Nafta talks

Pence met with Pena Nieto privately at the summit. The Mexican leader told reporters they would discuss not just the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but also maintaining a relationship of "mutual respect" between their two countries.

Pence and Pena Nieto kept their remarks to reporters extremely brief - in contrast to the more expansive and warmer tone struck by Pence and Trudeau during the public part of a meeting held minutes earlier.

Trudeau said there was "positive momentum" on reworking the NAFTA accord - which groups Canada, Mexico and the United States - while Pence said talks were encouraging.

"As the president said very recently, we think we're close," Pence said before starting the meeting with Pena Nieto. "We are hopeful that we can conclude a successful renegotiation of NAFTA."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday backed air strikes by the United States and its allies on Syria's chemical weapons program but Argentina, Brazil and Peru voiced caution during a regional summit about the escalating military action

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday backed air strikes by the United States and its allies on Syria's chemical weapons program but Argentina, Brazil and Peru voiced caution during a regional summit about the escalating military action. Speaking at the Summit of the Americas in Peru, Trudeau and several other Western Hemisphere leaders forcefully condemned the use of chemical weapons, following a suspected poison gas attack last week in a Damascus suburb that killed up to 75 people and sparked international outcry. Washington blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government for the attack and, together with Britain and France, launched missile strikes overnight on what it said were Syrian chemical weapons facilities. "Canada stands with our friends in this necessary response and we condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons in last week's attack," Trudeau said in his speech. "Those responsible must be brought to justice." But the retaliatory action drew pleas for caution from several Latin American countries. "There's deep concern in Brazil with the escalation of military conflict in Syria," Brazilian President Michel Temer told the summit. "It's time to find permanent solutions based on international law to a war that has been going for far too long and ended too many lives." Peru, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, called for moderation from all parties involved in Syria and said it was working to find a political solution, according to a foreign ministry statement. Argentine President Mauricio Macri also appealed for greater coordination on Syria "in the framework of existing international commitments", remarks later echoed by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. Outside the summit, the strikes drew swift condemnation from left-leaning governments in Bolivia and Cuba, outspoken critics of US influence. But Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, a close US ally in Latin America, appeared to back Washington as he condemned chemical weapons. "We support actions to punish their use and seek their total elimination," Santos said. The Pentagon said the missile strikes in Syria had hit every target. It said the military action was aimed at delivering an unambiguous signal to the Syrian government and deterring the future use of chemical weapons. The official theme of the Summit of the Americas is the fight against corruption. Many countries in attendance are also expected to condemn a pending election in Venezuela. But Syria, China and trade loomed over the talks on Saturday as Washington seeks to advance the agenda of U.S. President Donald Trump, which is widely unpopular in the region. Trump canceled his attendance at the summit to focus on Syria. US Vice President Mike Pence, filling in for him, was expected to discuss Syria in his speech on Saturday and in meetings with heads of state. Nafta talks Pence met with Pena Nieto privately at the summit. The Mexican leader told reporters they would discuss not just the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but also maintaining a relationship of "mutual respect" between their two countries. Pence and Pena Nieto kept their remarks to reporters extremely brief - in contrast to the more expansive and warmer tone struck by Pence and Trudeau during the public part of a meeting held minutes earlier. Trudeau said there was "positive momentum" on reworking the NAFTA accord - which groups Canada, Mexico and the United States - while Pence said talks were encouraging. "As the president said very recently, we think we're close," Pence said before starting the meeting with Pena Nieto. "We are hopeful that we can conclude a successful renegotiation of NAFTA."

Canada backs Syria strikes but others concerned at Americas summit

Some 100 children were among the 311 people killed in the giant mudslide that slammed into the southern Colombian town of Mocoa last week, the government said Thursday.

The mudslide hit late Friday after heavy rains caused three rivers to flood, sending a sea of mud, boulders and debris crashing into the town.

The latest death toll was given by the country&#39;s Disasters Risk Management office.

More than 300 people remain missing, according to President Juan Manuel Santos.

Mocoa, the capital of the department of Putumayo, was home to 70,000 people, about 45,000 of whom were affected by the disaster, according to the Red Cross.

In an effort to speed up reconstruction, the government formally declared a 30-day state of economic, social and ecological emergency in Mocoa, which will allow direct contracting of services without the need for formal, more time-consuming procedures.

The hardest-hit areas were impoverished neighborhoods populated with residents uprooted during Colombia&#39;s five-decade civil war.

Authorities are investigating whether local and regional officials correctly enforced building codes and planned adequately for natural disasters.

The mayor, the governor and their predecessors are also being probed to see whether they bear any responsibility, according to Colombian media reports.

The mudslide turned Mocoa into a wasteland of earth, boulders and debris.

Many survivors have had to take the disaster response effort into their own hands, clawing through the mud for their loved ones, digging their graves themselves and defending what belongings they have left from looters.

(AFP)

More than 300 people remain missing, according to President Juan Manuel Santos

Some 100 children were among the 311 people killed in the giant mudslide that slammed into the southern Colombian town of Mocoa last week, the government said Thursday. The mudslide hit late Friday after heavy rains caused three rivers to flood, sending a sea of mud, boulders and debris crashing into the town. The latest death toll was given by the country's Disasters Risk Management office. More than 300 people remain missing, according to President Juan Manuel Santos. Mocoa, the capital of the department of Putumayo, was home to 70,000 people, about 45,000 of whom were affected by the disaster, according to the Red Cross. In an effort to speed up reconstruction, the government formally declared a 30-day state of economic, social and ecological emergency in Mocoa, which will allow direct contracting of services without the need for formal, more time-consuming procedures. The hardest-hit areas were impoverished neighborhoods populated with residents uprooted during Colombia's five-decade civil war. Authorities are investigating whether local and regional officials correctly enforced building codes and planned adequately for natural disasters. The mayor, the governor and their predecessors are also being probed to see whether they bear any responsibility, according to Colombian media reports. The mudslide turned Mocoa into a wasteland of earth, boulders and debris. Many survivors have had to take the disaster response effort into their own hands, clawing through the mud for their loved ones, digging their graves themselves and defending what belongings they have left from looters. (AFP)

100 children among 311 killed in Colombia mudslide

Scores of decomposing cadavers were being released for burial on Monday as rescuers continued to search for victims of weekend flooding and landslides that devastated a city in southern Colombia, killing at least 273 people.

Desperate families queued for blocks in the heat to search a morgue for loved ones who died when several rivers burst their banks in the early hours of Saturday, sending water, mud and debris crashing down streets and into houses as people slept.

Bodies wrapped in white sheets lay on the concrete floor of the morgue as officials sought to bury them as soon as possible to avoid the spread of disease. The government has begun vaccination against infection.

&quot;Please speed up delivery of the bodies because they are decomposing,&quot; said Yadira Andrea Munoz, a 45-year-old housewife who expected to receive the remains of two relatives who died in the tragedy.

But officials asked for families to be patient.

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<h5>Many families in Mocoa have spent days and nights digging through the debris with their hands despite a lack of food, clean water and electricity</h5>
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&quot;We don&#39;t want bodies to be delivered wrongly,&quot; said Carlos Eduardo Valdes, head of the forensic science institute.

The death toll has ticked up during the day as rescuers searched with dogs and machinery in the mud-choked rubble.

Many families in Mocoa have spent days and nights digging through the debris with their hands despite a lack of food, clean water and electricity.

President Juan Manuel Santos, who made a third visit to the area on Monday, blamed climate change for the disaster, saying Mocoa had received one-third of its usual monthly rain in just one night, causing the rivers to burst their banks.

Others said deforestation in surrounding mountains meant there were few trees to prevent water washing down bare slopes.

More than 500 people were staying in emergency housing and social services had helped 10 lost children find their parents. As many as 43 children were killed.

Families of the dead will receive about $6,400 in aid and the government will cover hospital and funeral costs.

Even in a country where heavy rains, a mountainous landscape and informal construction combine to make landslides a common occurrence, the scale of the Mocoa disaster was daunting compared with recent tragedies, including a 2015 landslide that killed nearly 100 people.

Colombia&#39;s deadliest landslide, the 1985 Armero disaster, killed more than 20,000 people.

Santos urged Colombians to take precautions against flooding and continued rains.

Flooding in Peru last month killed more than 100 people and destroyed infrastructure.

(Reuters)

Desperate families queued for blocks in the heat to search a morgue for loved ones

Scores of decomposing cadavers were being released for burial on Monday as rescuers continued to search for victims of weekend flooding and landslides that devastated a city in southern Colombia, killing at least 273 people. Desperate families queued for blocks in the heat to search a morgue for loved ones who died when several rivers burst their banks in the early hours of Saturday, sending water, mud and debris crashing down streets and into houses as people slept. Bodies wrapped in white sheets lay on the concrete floor of the morgue as officials sought to bury them as soon as possible to avoid the spread of disease. The government has begun vaccination against infection. "Please speed up delivery of the bodies because they are decomposing," said Yadira Andrea Munoz, a 45-year-old housewife who expected to receive the remains of two relatives who died in the tragedy. But officials asked for families to be patient. Many families in Mocoa have spent days and nights digging through the debris with their hands despite a lack of food, clean water and electricity × "We don't want bodies to be delivered wrongly," said Carlos Eduardo Valdes, head of the forensic science institute. The death toll has ticked up during the day as rescuers searched with dogs and machinery in the mud-choked rubble. Many families in Mocoa have spent days and nights digging through the debris with their hands despite a lack of food, clean water and electricity. President Juan Manuel Santos, who made a third visit to the area on Monday, blamed climate change for the disaster, saying Mocoa had received one-third of its usual monthly rain in just one night, causing the rivers to burst their banks. Others said deforestation in surrounding mountains meant there were few trees to prevent water washing down bare slopes. More than 500 people were staying in emergency housing and social services had helped 10 lost children find their parents. As many as 43 children were killed. Families of the dead will receive about $6,400 in aid and the government will cover hospital and funeral costs. Even in a country where heavy rains, a mountainous landscape and informal construction combine to make landslides a common occurrence, the scale of the Mocoa disaster was daunting compared with recent tragedies, including a 2015 landslide that killed nearly 100 people. Colombia's deadliest landslide, the 1985 Armero disaster, killed more than 20,000 people. Santos urged Colombians to take precautions against flooding and continued rains. Flooding in Peru last month killed more than 100 people and destroyed infrastructure. (Reuters)

Colombia starts to bury 273 landslide victims, even as search continues

Colombia&#39;s FARC rebels begin disarming Wednesday under a historic peace deal, beginning the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war.

After weeks of mustering its troops at designated disarmament zones, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was set to begin an inventory of its weapons and destroying munitions under United Nations supervision.

&quot;I&#39;m abandoning my rifle for a broom,&quot; said guerrilla Maritza Gonzalez at the FARC&#39;s hot, dusty camp in San Jose de Oriente, in northern Colombia.

Three armed guerrillas in combat fatigues guarded the entrance to the rudimentary camp, where a steady stream of trucks delivered bags of cement and workers scrambled to finish building a kitchen, mess hall, bathrooms and a laundry area.

Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters.

&quot;Let&#39;s hope this leads to peace,&quot; she told AFP.

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President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his efforts to end the country&#39;s 53-year conflict, called the disarmament &quot;historic news for Colombians&quot; in a tweet.

FARC leader Rodrigo &quot;Timochenko&quot; Londono tweeted that the leftist rebels were laying down their guns &quot;with enthusiasm.&quot;

The disarmament of the country&#39;s largest guerrilla army will leave rival movement ELN -- currently engaged in rocky peace talks with the government -- as the only rebel group still waging a multi-sided war that has killed 260,000 people.

The Cold War-era conflict, which has also left 60,000 people missing and uprooted 6.9 million, is the last major armed conflict in the Americas.

Colombia, South America&#39;s third economy and the world&#39;s biggest cocaine producer, has been torn since the 1960s by fighting that has drawn in multiple leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitary units, drug cartels and the army.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-colombia-peace-is-elusive-7095">Also</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-colombia-peace-is-elusive-7095"> read: In Colombia, peace is elusive</a>

Santos is hoping to seal a &quot;complete peace&quot; with both the FARC and the ELN.

Both leftist rebel groups took up arms against the government in 1964, in the aftermath of a crushed peasant uprising.

Next challenge: the ELN 
The FARC has some 6,900 guerrillas.

It signed a peace deal with the government in November after four years of negotiations in Cuba, but implementation is running slightly behind schedule.

Under the deal, the FARC was originally due to surrender 30 percent of its weapons to the UN by Wednesday. But that can only happen once the inventory is complete.

The government&#39;s high commissioner for peace, Sergio Jaramillo, said Tuesday that the 180-day deadline for the rebels to fully disarm would be maintained, however.

The UN said in a statement that the FARC has until May 29 to disarm.

The first to surrender their weapons will be the 322 FARC members taking part in a joint monitoring commission with the government and the UN.

Separate talks with the ELN, or National Liberation Army, took a hit this week when the rebels claimed responsibility for a series of recent attacks -- a bloody reminder of the violence Colombia still faces.

Experts warn the ELN could be a tougher negotiating partner than the FARC because it has more hardline demands for sweeping social change.

It also has a decentralized command structure that could make it harder to convince the rank and file to accept an eventual deal.&nbsp;

(AFP)

They now begin the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war

Colombia's FARC rebels begin disarming Wednesday under a historic peace deal, beginning the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war. After weeks of mustering its troops at designated disarmament zones, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was set to begin an inventory of its weapons and destroying munitions under United Nations supervision. "I'm abandoning my rifle for a broom," said guerrilla Maritza Gonzalez at the FARC's hot, dusty camp in San Jose de Oriente, in northern Colombia. Three armed guerrillas in combat fatigues guarded the entrance to the rudimentary camp, where a steady stream of trucks delivered bags of cement and workers scrambled to finish building a kitchen, mess hall, bathrooms and a laundry area. Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters. "Let's hope this leads to peace," she told AFP. Maritza Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters. 'Let's hope this leads to peace' × President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his efforts to end the country's 53-year conflict, called the disarmament "historic news for Colombians" in a tweet. FARC leader Rodrigo "Timochenko" Londono tweeted that the leftist rebels were laying down their guns "with enthusiasm." The disarmament of the country's largest guerrilla army will leave rival movement ELN -- currently engaged in rocky peace talks with the government -- as the only rebel group still waging a multi-sided war that has killed 260,000 people. The Cold War-era conflict, which has also left 60,000 people missing and uprooted 6.9 million, is the last major armed conflict in the Americas. Colombia, South America's third economy and the world's biggest cocaine producer, has been torn since the 1960s by fighting that has drawn in multiple leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitary units, drug cartels and the army. Also read: In Colombia, peace is elusive Santos is hoping to seal a "complete peace" with both the FARC and the ELN. Both leftist rebel groups took up arms against the government in 1964, in the aftermath of a crushed peasant uprising. Next challenge: the ELN The FARC has some 6,900 guerrillas. It signed a peace deal with the government in November after four years of negotiations in Cuba, but implementation is running slightly behind schedule. Under the deal, the FARC was originally due to surrender 30 percent of its weapons to the UN by Wednesday. But that can only happen once the inventory is complete. The government's high commissioner for peace, Sergio Jaramillo, said Tuesday that the 180-day deadline for the rebels to fully disarm would be maintained, however. The UN said in a statement that the FARC has until May 29 to disarm. The first to surrender their weapons will be the 322 FARC members taking part in a joint monitoring commission with the government and the UN. Separate talks with the ELN, or National Liberation Army, took a hit this week when the rebels claimed responsibility for a series of recent attacks -- a bloody reminder of the violence Colombia still faces. Experts warn the ELN could be a tougher negotiating partner than the FARC because it has more hardline demands for sweeping social change. It also has a decentralized command structure that could make it harder to convince the rank and file to accept an eventual deal. (AFP)

Colombia's FARC rebels begin to disarm

Six weeks after Colombians shocked the world by rejecting a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, negotiators have come back with a new deal. But, will it work this time?

&quot;Implement this now,&quot; the government&#39;s chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, urged the country on Tuesday, a day after version 2.0 was published.

After four years of talks and a last-ditch return to the drawing board, &quot;there&#39;s really no more room to negotiate,&quot; said De la Calle.

But President Juan Manuel Santos, who won this year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, still faces a potentially huge obstacle in the form of his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. The right-wing senator led the opposition to the first deal, arguing it was too soft on the Marxist guerrillas. He has yet to give his verdict on the revisions.

Here are some points on how the new deal stacks up against the old one, and whether it stands a better chance of ending a half-century conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives.

&nbsp;

New referendum?

The defeat of the original deal in an October 2 referendum defied opinion polls, flew in the face of international backing and jeopardised Santos&#39;s legacy.

Will he risk it all again? That&#39;s unclear. The new deal does not specify how it is to be ratified. That leaves open any number of possibilities, including another referendum or simply a vote in Congress, where Santos has a majority.

&nbsp;

More justice?

Critics attacked the first deal as granting impunity to war criminals. The revisions seek to fend off that claim. But there will still be no jail time for those who confess.

Special courts to try crimes linked to the conflict, and give lenient alternative sentences, originally had no expiration date. Now they will have jurisdiction for 10 years, with possible extensions to 15.

A bill on reduced sentences will be sent to Congress, with a special section on leniency for soldiers and police, a key opposition demand. For the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, crimes such as drug trafficking will only receive amnesty if the perpetrators &quot;did not personally profit&quot;.

&nbsp;

FARC concessions?

The FARC has agreed to publish its assets, a sort of financial statement on the guerrilla enterprise funded by drug trafficking, illegal mining and ransom kidnappings. The money will be used to pay reparations to victims.

The FARC will also list all its members, including allied militias. Rebels involved in drug trafficking are ordered to submit a report on their activities to help police investigate remaining cartels.

&nbsp;

Other changes?

Whereas the original deal was to be written into the constitution, the revised version will simply hold sway for three presidential terms: 12 years. In another change, the government will use both carrots and sticks to tackle coca farming, which has fueled the conflict in the world&#39;s largest cocaine producer.

Farmers will still be encouraged to switch to legal crops, but the government will not end US-backed aerial herbicide spraying, despite dire health warnings.The edits also deleted explicit mention of &quot;gender equality&quot; and special treatment for sexual minorities, after an outcry from conservative religious groups.

&nbsp;

Will it work?

The new 310-page deal revisits all but one of the 57 points that Uribe&#39;s camp had criticised. But the changes may not be sweeping enough for opponents.

And the untouched item is a big one: rebels&#39; right to run for elected office. The FARC will still get 10 automatic seats in Congress from 2018.

&quot;The changes are unlikely to please the opposition,&quot; said Maria Luisa Puig, an analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy. She predicted Santos would skip a potentially fatal second referendum. But that &quot;will raise doubts about (the deal&#39;s) political viability and the implementation process,&quot; she said in a note.

Some experts sounded more optimistic. &quot;There will be criticism, but not enough to block implementation,&quot; said Angelika Rettberg of Los Andes University in Bogota.

(AFP)

'Implement this now,' government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, urged the country Tuesday, a day after version 2.0 was published

Six weeks after Colombians shocked the world by rejecting a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, negotiators have come back with a new deal. But, will it work this time? "Implement this now," the government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, urged the country on Tuesday, a day after version 2.0 was published. After four years of talks and a last-ditch return to the drawing board, "there's really no more room to negotiate," said De la Calle. But President Juan Manuel Santos, who won this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, still faces a potentially huge obstacle in the form of his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. The right-wing senator led the opposition to the first deal, arguing it was too soft on the Marxist guerrillas. He has yet to give his verdict on the revisions. Here are some points on how the new deal stacks up against the old one, and whether it stands a better chance of ending a half-century conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives. New referendum? The defeat of the original deal in an October 2 referendum defied opinion polls, flew in the face of international backing and jeopardised Santos's legacy. Will he risk it all again? That's unclear. The new deal does not specify how it is to be ratified. That leaves open any number of possibilities, including another referendum or simply a vote in Congress, where Santos has a majority. More justice? Critics attacked the first deal as granting impunity to war criminals. The revisions seek to fend off that claim. But there will still be no jail time for those who confess. Special courts to try crimes linked to the conflict, and give lenient alternative sentences, originally had no expiration date. Now they will have jurisdiction for 10 years, with possible extensions to 15. A bill on reduced sentences will be sent to Congress, with a special section on leniency for soldiers and police, a key opposition demand. For the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, crimes such as drug trafficking will only receive amnesty if the perpetrators "did not personally profit". FARC concessions? The FARC has agreed to publish its assets, a sort of financial statement on the guerrilla enterprise funded by drug trafficking, illegal mining and ransom kidnappings. The money will be used to pay reparations to victims. The FARC will also list all its members, including allied militias. Rebels involved in drug trafficking are ordered to submit a report on their activities to help police investigate remaining cartels. Other changes? Whereas the original deal was to be written into the constitution, the revised version will simply hold sway for three presidential terms: 12 years. In another change, the government will use both carrots and sticks to tackle coca farming, which has fueled the conflict in the world's largest cocaine producer. Farmers will still be encouraged to switch to legal crops, but the government will not end US-backed aerial herbicide spraying, despite dire health warnings.The edits also deleted explicit mention of "gender equality" and special treatment for sexual minorities, after an outcry from conservative religious groups. Will it work? The new 310-page deal revisits all but one of the 57 points that Uribe's camp had criticised. But the changes may not be sweeping enough for opponents. And the untouched item is a big one: rebels' right to run for elected office. The FARC will still get 10 automatic seats in Congress from 2018. "The changes are unlikely to please the opposition," said Maria Luisa Puig, an analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy. She predicted Santos would skip a potentially fatal second referendum. But that "will raise doubts about (the deal's) political viability and the implementation process," she said in a note. Some experts sounded more optimistic. "There will be criticism, but not enough to block implementation," said Angelika Rettberg of Los Andes University in Bogota. (AFP)

Will Colombia's new peace deal work this time?

The Norwegian Nobel Committee today announced that Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year for &quot;his resolute efforts to bring the country&rsquo;s more than 50-year-long civil war to an end&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The war has cost the lives of at least 220,000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people, the committee observed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process. This tribute is paid, not least, to the representatives of the countless victims of the civil war,&quot; the committee said in an official statement.

&nbsp;

The award came despite voters&#39; shock rejection of the terms of a historic deal Santos reached last month with FARC chief Rodrigo Londono, alias Timoleon &quot;Timochenko&quot; Jimenez, after nearly four years of talks, AFP observed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The fact that a majority of the voters said `no` to the peace accord does not necessarily mean that the peace process is dead. The referendum was not a vote for or against peace. What the &quot;No&quot; side rejected was not the desire for peace, but a specific peace agreement,&quot; committee chairwoman Kaci Kullmann Five was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;There is a real danger that the peace process will come to a halt and that civil war will flare up again. This makes it even more important that the parties, headed by President Santos and FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, continue to respect the ceasefire,&quot; &nbsp;she said as she announced the award.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;By awarding this year&rsquo;s Peace Prize to President Juan Manuel Santos, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to encourage all those who are striving to achieve peace, reconciliation and justice in Colombia,&quot; the committee further said in an official statement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Santos accepts the award on behalf of all Colombians&nbsp;

Santos accepted the award on behalf of all Colombians, especially those who have perished in the country&#39;s conflict, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;This morning, very early, my son Martin woke me to tell me the decision that of the committee in Norway to grant me the Nobel Peace Prize. I have infinite gratitude, with all my heart, for this honourable distinction. I don&#39;t receive this in my name, but in the name of all Colombians, especially the millions of victims from this conflict we have been suffering for more than 50 years. Colombians, this is for you. It&#39;s for the victims, so there&#39;s not even one more victim. No one else should die. We should reconcile, come together, to culminate this process and start to contruct a stable and lasting peace,&quot; he said while speaking in Bogota.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The award excluded FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, who signed the peace accord with Santos in Cartagena on September 26.

&nbsp;

Santos has promised to revive the plan even though Colombians narrowly rejected it in a referendum on Sunday. Many voters believed it was too lenient on the FARC guerrillas, according to Reuters.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The award the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Commission is making to President Juan Manuel Santos is the world&#39;s voice of support for our country. It is the recognition they are making to his leadership, to his persistence, to the victims who participated in the process, representing more than seven million victims who have endured the continent&#39;s longest armed conflict. This gives us strength to continue forward. This award gives us strength,&quot; lead government negotiator Humberto de la Calle was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Colombia&#39;s government and Marxist FARC rebels said on Friday they were willing to listen to proposals to alter their peace accord.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The award came despite rejection of the terms of a historic peace deal Santos reached last month with FARC chief Rodrigo Londono

The Norwegian Nobel Committee today announced that Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year for "his resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than 50-year-long civil war to an end". The war has cost the lives of at least 220,000 Colombians and displaced close to six million people, the committee observed. × "The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process. This tribute is paid, not least, to the representatives of the countless victims of the civil war," the committee said in an official statement. The award came despite voters' shock rejection of the terms of a historic deal Santos reached last month with FARC chief Rodrigo Londono, alias Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez, after nearly four years of talks, AFP observed. "The fact that a majority of the voters said `no` to the peace accord does not necessarily mean that the peace process is dead. The referendum was not a vote for or against peace. What the "No" side rejected was not the desire for peace, but a specific peace agreement," committee chairwoman Kaci Kullmann Five was quoted as saying by AFP. "There is a real danger that the peace process will come to a halt and that civil war will flare up again. This makes it even more important that the parties, headed by President Santos and FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, continue to respect the ceasefire," she said as she announced the award. "By awarding this year’s Peace Prize to President Juan Manuel Santos, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to encourage all those who are striving to achieve peace, reconciliation and justice in Colombia," the committee further said in an official statement. Santos accepts the award on behalf of all Colombians Santos accepted the award on behalf of all Colombians, especially those who have perished in the country's conflict, Reuters reported. "This morning, very early, my son Martin woke me to tell me the decision that of the committee in Norway to grant me the Nobel Peace Prize. I have infinite gratitude, with all my heart, for this honourable distinction. I don't receive this in my name, but in the name of all Colombians, especially the millions of victims from this conflict we have been suffering for more than 50 years. Colombians, this is for you. It's for the victims, so there's not even one more victim. No one else should die. We should reconcile, come together, to culminate this process and start to contruct a stable and lasting peace," he said while speaking in Bogota. × The award excluded FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, who signed the peace accord with Santos in Cartagena on September 26. Santos has promised to revive the plan even though Colombians narrowly rejected it in a referendum on Sunday. Many voters believed it was too lenient on the FARC guerrillas, according to Reuters. "The award the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Commission is making to President Juan Manuel Santos is the world's voice of support for our country. It is the recognition they are making to his leadership, to his persistence, to the victims who participated in the process, representing more than seven million victims who have endured the continent's longest armed conflict. This gives us strength to continue forward. This award gives us strength," lead government negotiator Humberto de la Calle was quoted as saying by Reuters. Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels said on Friday they were willing to listen to proposals to alter their peace accord. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos wins Nobel Peace Prize for 'resolute' efforts to end civil war

Colombians are set to vote today to finalise or reject the peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC rebels.&nbsp;

Juan Carlos Galindo, head of Colombia&#39;s national registry, said on Friday, &quot;The activities to distribute the electoral materials are under way with total normality, and the electoral kits have been distributed without any inconvenience.&quot;

&quot;We offer calm, the process is advancing on schedule. And so I can tell all Colombians that everything is under control, and we are basically ready with the preparations for the plebiscite process on October 2,&quot; Galindo had said.&nbsp;

According to polls, a positive outcome is expected, the deal is likely to be approved. If the vote is successful, under the terms of the peace deal, the rebels will have to disarm and become a political party, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said &quot;I hope that when the contest ends tomorrow, we will all be able to say anew that democracy is functioning, and functioning well, and that the result, whatever it may be, will be embraced by all Colombians, &#39;we embrace it, we accept it.&#39; And I hope we will be able to work together in building this peace because what can happen tomorrow is we can put an end to a war, silence the weapons. But the construction of peace will begin there.&quot;

Santos began the talks with the insurgent group in 2012. The peace deal was signed on September 26.&nbsp;

FARC

The insurgent group on Saturday said &quot;we will pay material reparations to victims&quot;,&nbsp;AFP reported.&nbsp;

The rebels had said earlier they would not be able to pay any compensation to their victims as all the money went into funding the war.&nbsp;

FARC&#39;s critics have argued that the rebel group would not pay even if it had the money to do so.&nbsp;

The rebels said &quot;the monetary and non-monetary resources&quot; that was put in war will be informed to the government.&nbsp;

The assets will be disclosed within 180 days, the time given to disarm.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The conflict between the rebels and the government has left 260,000 dead and around seven million displaced.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

The FARC insurgent group has said 'we will pay material reparations to victims'

Colombians are set to vote today to finalise or reject the peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC rebels. Juan Carlos Galindo, head of Colombia's national registry, said on Friday, "The activities to distribute the electoral materials are under way with total normality, and the electoral kits have been distributed without any inconvenience." "We offer calm, the process is advancing on schedule. And so I can tell all Colombians that everything is under control, and we are basically ready with the preparations for the plebiscite process on October 2," Galindo had said. According to polls, a positive outcome is expected, the deal is likely to be approved. If the vote is successful, under the terms of the peace deal, the rebels will have to disarm and become a political party, Reuters reported. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said "I hope that when the contest ends tomorrow, we will all be able to say anew that democracy is functioning, and functioning well, and that the result, whatever it may be, will be embraced by all Colombians, 'we embrace it, we accept it.' And I hope we will be able to work together in building this peace because what can happen tomorrow is we can put an end to a war, silence the weapons. But the construction of peace will begin there." Santos began the talks with the insurgent group in 2012. The peace deal was signed on September 26. FARC The insurgent group on Saturday said "we will pay material reparations to victims", AFP reported. The rebels had said earlier they would not be able to pay any compensation to their victims as all the money went into funding the war. FARC's critics have argued that the rebel group would not pay even if it had the money to do so. The rebels said "the monetary and non-monetary resources" that was put in war will be informed to the government. The assets will be disclosed within 180 days, the time given to disarm. The conflict between the rebels and the government has left 260,000 dead and around seven million displaced. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Colombia readies for referendum to approve peace deal with FARC

By Giles Gibson

When I landed in Colombia&#39;s high-altitude capital city, Bogota, in March for a reporting trip in South America, the country was buzzing with rumours.

For four years, the Colombian government had been holding exhaustive talks in Havana, Cuba with representatives from Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia or the FARC.

On an almost daily basis, rumours would flood social media about a deal finally being signed. Local and foreign journalists flinched every time their phones buzzed.

One tweet from Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos about an &#39;&#39;important announcement&#39;&#39; sent local media into meltdown. But it was a false alarm. The country continued to hold its breath.

Six months on and with the accord finally sealed, it&#39;s difficult to convey how central the war with the FARC is to the country&#39;s national identity. If you are Colombian and under 50-years-old, you will never have known your country to be at peace.

And even though this week marks the signing of the peace accord in the colonial city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, the waiting isn&#39;t over yet.

Before becoming final, the deal must be ratified by the Colombian people in a referendum vote on 2nd October. While polls indicate the deal will pass easily, the debate goes deep into a central political divide.

Current president Juan Manuel Santos was Defence Minister under former Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe. As minister in charge of the military, Santos was central to Uribe&#39;s tough crackdown on FARC rebel strongholds.

But when he took the top job, Santos suddenly changed direction. He immediately started laying the ground for peace talks with the FARC, preaching a message of reconciliation.

Uribe is a towering figure in Colombian politics and he has fought against the peace deal every step of the way.

The October referendum is therefore about Santos versus Uribe as much as it is about peace versus war.

And even its biggest supporter has never been completely confident.

&quot;I&#39;m optimistic but cautious. I think it is going to be much more complicated than we think. It&#39;s going to be very difficult to repair in a few months 50 years of war, 50 years of hatred, 50 years of division, 50 years of atrocities,&quot; Santos told reporters in 2012.

It&#39;s that long history of violence that explains why the country&#39;s appetite for revenge could be just as strong as its appetite for peace.

Many Colombians feel let down by the terms of the peace deal. After a conflict that killed a quarter of a million people, some question why the FARC isn&#39;t facing total justice.

But others say allowing the guerillas back into society as a legitimate political party is the only way for Colombia to leave guns and conflict behind.

As the referendum looms on 2nd October, there&#39;s even more at stake than a 52 year wait for peace.

The credibility of a president, Colombia&#39;s national identity and a country&#39;s ability to forgive are all on the line.

(WION)

Many Colombians feel let down; after a conflict that killed a quarter million, some question why the FARC isn't facing total justice

By Giles Gibson When I landed in Colombia's high-altitude capital city, Bogota, in March for a reporting trip in South America, the country was buzzing with rumours. For four years, the Colombian government had been holding exhaustive talks in Havana, Cuba with representatives from Las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia or the FARC. On an almost daily basis, rumours would flood social media about a deal finally being signed. Local and foreign journalists flinched every time their phones buzzed. One tweet from Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos about an ''important announcement'' sent local media into meltdown. But it was a false alarm. The country continued to hold its breath. Six months on and with the accord finally sealed, it's difficult to convey how central the war with the FARC is to the country's national identity. If you are Colombian and under 50-years-old, you will never have known your country to be at peace. And even though this week marks the signing of the peace accord in the colonial city of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, the waiting isn't over yet. Before becoming final, the deal must be ratified by the Colombian people in a referendum vote on 2nd October. While polls indicate the deal will pass easily, the debate goes deep into a central political divide. Current president Juan Manuel Santos was Defence Minister under former Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe. As minister in charge of the military, Santos was central to Uribe's tough crackdown on FARC rebel strongholds. But when he took the top job, Santos suddenly changed direction. He immediately started laying the ground for peace talks with the FARC, preaching a message of reconciliation. Uribe is a towering figure in Colombian politics and he has fought against the peace deal every step of the way. The October referendum is therefore about Santos versus Uribe as much as it is about peace versus war. And even its biggest supporter has never been completely confident. "I'm optimistic but cautious. I think it is going to be much more complicated than we think. It's going to be very difficult to repair in a few months 50 years of war, 50 years of hatred, 50 years of division, 50 years of atrocities," Santos told reporters in 2012. It's that long history of violence that explains why the country's appetite for revenge could be just as strong as its appetite for peace. Many Colombians feel let down by the terms of the peace deal. After a conflict that killed a quarter of a million people, some question why the FARC isn't facing total justice. But others say allowing the guerillas back into society as a legitimate political party is the only way for Colombia to leave guns and conflict behind. As the referendum looms on 2nd October, there's even more at stake than a 52 year wait for peace. The credibility of a president, Colombia's national identity and a country's ability to forgive are all on the line. (WION)

Colombia's peace accord isn't a done deal yet

A historic peace deal will be put to national referendum on October 2 to end five decades of conflict between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government, President Juan Manuel Santos said Wednesday. 
 
&quot;It will be the most important election of our lives,&quot; he said in a national address calling it a unique opportunity.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;This is a historic and unique opportunity... to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren.&quot; 
 
Most opinion polls suggest that Colombians will back the deal.&nbsp; 
 
4 years of negotiations, 50 years of civil war&nbsp; 
 
After nearly four years of negotiations in Cuba, the two sides announced a final deal to end the half-century civil war that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions. 
 
&quot;The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord... on ending the conflict and building a stable and enduring peace,&quot; the two sides said in a joint statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez. 
 
&quot;We don&#39;t want one more victim in Colombia.&quot; 
 
The start of the talks in Havana more than three years ago marked the first effort in a decade to end the war, after the last effort, launched by former Colombian president Andres Pastrana, collapsed.&nbsp; 
 
In a national address just after the announcement, Santos, who has staked his legacy on the peace process, said the deal marked &quot;the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war.&quot; 
 
He immediately launched his campaign for a &quot;Yes&quot; vote in the referendum, which he said would be the most important election of voters&#39; lives. 
 
Santos&#39;s top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, however, is leading a campaign to vote &quot;No&quot; in the referendum, arguing his successor has given too much away to the FARC. 
 
Meanwhile,&nbsp;the government is still fighting a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose ongoing kidnappings have derailed efforts to open peace negotiations. 
 
Earlier this summer, in June, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a bilateral ceasefire and end to hostilities. 
 
 
Marathon finale 
 
The conflict began with the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964, at a time when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America. 
 
Over the years, it has killed about 220,000 people, uprooted nearly 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing. 
 
Along the way, it has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the world&#39;s largest cocaine-producing country. 
 
Three previous peace processes with the FARC ended in failure. 
 
But after a major offensive by the army from 2006 to 2009, led by then-defense minister Santos, a weakened FARC agreed to come to the negotiating table. 
 
Over the past few days, the two sides had been discussing a range of unresolved topics, and worked late into the night Tuesday to draft their joint statement, sources from the two delegations told AFP in Havana. 
 
A lowdown on six-point deal&nbsp; 
 
The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations. 
 
They cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and the implementation and monitoring of the accord. 
 
Under the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire. 
 
The FARC will then become a political party. Its weapons will be melted down to build three peace monuments. 
 
Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict. 
 
An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape. 
 
Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess. 
 
Santos insisted there would be no impunity for such crimes. 
 
Improved security boon for business&nbsp; 
 
The improved security should boost investment and tourism and could open up development in rural regions of the emerging markets darling, analysts say, estimating a 0.3 percent to 1 percent increase in economic growth. 
 
&quot;If you have an improvement in overall security, foreign and national investment increases,&quot; said Sabine Kurtenbach at the Hamburg-based GIGA research institute. 
 
Key to securing a sustainable peace is that extra economic growth benefits Colombia&#39;s poorer, rural areas, analysts said. 
 
Obama hails the &#39;historic day&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The White House said US President Barack Obama had called Santos to congratulate him. 
 
&quot;The president recognised this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs. 
 
Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called &quot;Plan Colombia&quot;, recently rebaptised &quot;Peace Colombia&quot; by Obama. 
 
There are still obstacles on the way to peace.

(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After nearly 4 years of negotiations, Colombia government and FAARC rebels announced a final deal putting an end to half-century civil war

A historic peace deal will be put to national referendum on October 2 to end five decades of conflict between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government, President Juan Manuel Santos said Wednesday. "It will be the most important election of our lives," he said in a national address calling it a unique opportunity. "This is a historic and unique opportunity... to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren." Most opinion polls suggest that Colombians will back the deal. 4 years of negotiations, 50 years of civil war After nearly four years of negotiations in Cuba, the two sides announced a final deal to end the half-century civil war that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions. "The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord... on ending the conflict and building a stable and enduring peace," the two sides said in a joint statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez. "We don't want one more victim in Colombia." The start of the talks in Havana more than three years ago marked the first effort in a decade to end the war, after the last effort, launched by former Colombian president Andres Pastrana, collapsed. In a national address just after the announcement, Santos, who has staked his legacy on the peace process, said the deal marked "the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war." He immediately launched his campaign for a "Yes" vote in the referendum, which he said would be the most important election of voters' lives. Santos's top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, however, is leading a campaign to vote "No" in the referendum, arguing his successor has given too much away to the FARC. Meanwhile, the government is still fighting a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose ongoing kidnappings have derailed efforts to open peace negotiations. Earlier this summer, in June, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a bilateral ceasefire and end to hostilities. Marathon finale The conflict began with the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964, at a time when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America. Over the years, it has killed about 220,000 people, uprooted nearly 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing. Along the way, it has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the world's largest cocaine-producing country. Three previous peace processes with the FARC ended in failure. But after a major offensive by the army from 2006 to 2009, led by then-defense minister Santos, a weakened FARC agreed to come to the negotiating table. Over the past few days, the two sides had been discussing a range of unresolved topics, and worked late into the night Tuesday to draft their joint statement, sources from the two delegations told AFP in Havana. A lowdown on six-point deal The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations. They cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and the implementation and monitoring of the accord. Under the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire. The FARC will then become a political party. Its weapons will be melted down to build three peace monuments. Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict. An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape. Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess. Santos insisted there would be no impunity for such crimes. Improved security boon for business The improved security should boost investment and tourism and could open up development in rural regions of the emerging markets darling, analysts say, estimating a 0.3 percent to 1 percent increase in economic growth. "If you have an improvement in overall security, foreign and national investment increases," said Sabine Kurtenbach at the Hamburg-based GIGA research institute. Key to securing a sustainable peace is that extra economic growth benefits Colombia's poorer, rural areas, analysts said. Obama hails the 'historic day' The White House said US President Barack Obama had called Santos to congratulate him. "The president recognised this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement," it said in a statement. Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs. Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called "Plan Colombia", recently rebaptised "Peace Colombia" by Obama. There are still obstacles on the way to peace. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Historic peace deal to be put to referendum in Colombia on October 2