This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37180752
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Colombians celebrate as peace deal is reached with Farc rebels | Colombians celebrate as peace deal is reached with Farc rebels |
| (about 2 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. | |
| 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". |
| At the scene: Will Grant, BBC News, Havana | At the scene: Will Grant, BBC News, Havana |
| Together, the once bitter enemies stood - guerrilla leaders and former generals, foot soldiers and career diplomats - and sang the Colombian national anthem. | Together, the once bitter enemies stood - guerrilla leaders and former generals, foot soldiers and career diplomats - and sang the Colombian national anthem. |
| In the end their shared understanding of what Colombia is, appears to have won out over their sharp differences as the two sides took their seats to announce the end of almost five decades of fighting. | In the end their shared understanding of what Colombia is, appears to have won out over their sharp differences as the two sides took their seats to announce the end of almost five decades of fighting. |
| It has taken nearly four years of talks, which on several occasions looked on the verge of collapse. | It has taken nearly four years of talks, which on several occasions looked on the verge of collapse. |
| The question now, as the peace process moves from Havana back to Bogota, is whether the terms agreed in Havana will be acceptable to the Colombian people. | The question now, as the peace process moves from Havana back to Bogota, is whether the terms agreed in Havana will be acceptable to the Colombian people. |
| 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. |