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| Colombians celebrate as peace deal is reached with Farc rebels | Colombians celebrate as peace deal is reached with Farc rebels |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of Colombians have celebrated an historic peace accord between the government and left-wing Farc rebels, signed after 52 years of conflict. | Hundreds of Colombians have celebrated an historic peace accord between the government and left-wing Farc rebels, signed after 52 years of conflict. |
| The announcement was broadcast live on Wednesday from Havana, Cuba, where peace talks have been held for almost four years. | The announcement was broadcast live on Wednesday from Havana, Cuba, where peace talks have been held for almost four years. |
| The conflict has killed an estimated 260,000 people and displaced millions. | The conflict has killed an estimated 260,000 people and displaced millions. |
| President Juan Manuel Santos called the deal "the beginning of the end to the suffering, pain and tragedy of war". | President Juan Manuel Santos called the deal "the beginning of the end to the suffering, pain and tragedy of war". |
| 'War is over' | 'War is over' |
| "The Colombian government and the Farc announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord," Colombian government and Farc negotiators said in a joint statement. | "The Colombian government and the Farc announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord," Colombian government and Farc negotiators said in a joint statement. |
| The head of the Colombian delegation, Humberto de la Calle, and the chief Farc negotiator, Ivan Marquez, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Cuba. | The head of the Colombian delegation, Humberto de la Calle, and the chief Farc negotiator, Ivan Marquez, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Cuba. |
| Both sides have agreed to work together to address social exclusion, to deliver justice to the victims of the conflict and build a stable and enduring peace. | Both sides have agreed to work together to address social exclusion, to deliver justice to the victims of the conflict and build a stable and enduring peace. |
| The agreement comes after two years of secret talks and almost four years of formal negotiations. | The agreement comes after two years of secret talks and almost four years of formal negotiations. |
| "We have reached our goal," said Mr de la Calle. | "We have reached our goal," said Mr de la Calle. |
| "The war is over but also there is also new beginning. This agreement opens the door to a more inclusive society," he added. | "The war is over but also there is also new beginning. This agreement opens the door to a more inclusive society," he added. |
| 'Die in peace' | 'Die in peace' |
| In Bogota, hundreds of people, many dressed in white, gathered at different points of the city waving the Colombian flag and cheering. | In Bogota, hundreds of people, many dressed in white, gathered at different points of the city waving the Colombian flag and cheering. |
| "I can die in peace because finally I'll see my country without violence with a future for my children," 57-year-old Orlando Guevara told the Associated Press news agency. | "I can die in peace because finally I'll see my country without violence with a future for my children," 57-year-old Orlando Guevara told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Farc negotiator Ivan Marquez said the Farc and the government had "won the most beautiful of all battles: the peace of Colombia". | Farc negotiator Ivan Marquez said the Farc and the government had "won the most beautiful of all battles: the peace of Colombia". |
| Good news or coup against justice? Colombian ex-leaders react | Good news or coup against justice? Colombian ex-leaders react |
| Most major dailies in Colombia backed the deal in their lead editorials. | Most major dailies in Colombia backed the deal in their lead editorials. |
| Centre-right El Espectador praised the government's "bet on a structured, calm negotiation, with enough time for thought" while centre-left daily El Heraldo considered it "a historical step" that has the chance of "transforming the country". | Centre-right El Espectador praised the government's "bet on a structured, calm negotiation, with enough time for thought" while centre-left daily El Heraldo considered it "a historical step" that has the chance of "transforming the country". |
| Among those who commented were three former Colombian presidents. | Among those who commented were three former Colombian presidents. |
| Alvaro Uribe criticised the deal, saying it would promote "impunity" and expressed doubts as to whether the rebels - who financed themselves to a large extent by cocaine smuggling - would ever face drug trafficking charges. | Alvaro Uribe criticised the deal, saying it would promote "impunity" and expressed doubts as to whether the rebels - who financed themselves to a large extent by cocaine smuggling - would ever face drug trafficking charges. |
| Andres Pastrana, who tried and failed to reach a deal with the Farc while he was in office, said the agreement was "a coup d'etat against justice". | Andres Pastrana, who tried and failed to reach a deal with the Farc while he was in office, said the agreement was "a coup d'etat against justice". |
| But Ernesto Samper, who is now secretary general of regional body Unasur, praised the deal as "good news" for Colombia and the region as a whole. | But Ernesto Samper, who is now secretary general of regional body Unasur, praised the deal as "good news" for Colombia and the region as a whole. |
| BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. | BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. |
| The two sides had signed a bilateral ceasefire in June, paving the way for a final agreement. | The two sides had signed a bilateral ceasefire in June, paving the way for a final agreement. |
| "It has been a difficult job, with bright and dark moments," added Mr Marquez. | "It has been a difficult job, with bright and dark moments," added Mr Marquez. |
| President Barack Obama phoned his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, to congratulate him on the deal. | President Barack Obama phoned his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, to congratulate him on the deal. |
| "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 that can advance security and prosperity for the Colombian people," said the White House in a statement. | "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 that can advance security and prosperity for the Colombian people," said the White House in a statement. |
| 'No winners or losers' | 'No winners or losers' |
| Under the terms of the agreement, the Farc will give up its armed struggle and join the legal political process. | Under the terms of the agreement, the Farc will give up its armed struggle and join the legal political process. |
| "There is no room for winners or losers when you achieve peace through negotiations," tweeted Farc negotiator Rodrigo Granda. "Colombia wins, death loses." | "There is no room for winners or losers when you achieve peace through negotiations," tweeted Farc negotiator Rodrigo Granda. "Colombia wins, death loses." |
| The left-wing rebels have been fighting Colombian government since 1964. It is the longest-running conflict in Latin America. | The left-wing rebels have been fighting Colombian government since 1964. It is the longest-running conflict in Latin America. |
| The deal will need to be approved by Colombians in a popular vote, which will take place on 2 October, Mr Santos announced. | The deal will need to be approved by Colombians in a popular vote, which will take place on 2 October, Mr Santos announced. |
| "It will be the most important election of our lives," he said on national television shortly after the deal was signed. | "It will be the most important election of our lives," he said on national television shortly after the deal was signed. |
| Former President Alvaro Uribe is leading the campaign to get the agreement rejected. | Former President Alvaro Uribe is leading the campaign to get the agreement rejected. |