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| Farc's 'definitive' ceasefire takes effect in Colombia | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A ceasefire has come into effect in Colombia between the main leftist rebel group and the government, ending one of the world's longest insurgencies. | A ceasefire has come into effect in Colombia between the main leftist rebel group and the government, ending one of the world's longest insurgencies. |
| The ceasefire at midnight local time (05:00 GMT Monday) came after four years of peace talks in Cuba between the Farc and the government. | The ceasefire at midnight local time (05:00 GMT Monday) came after four years of peace talks in Cuba between the Farc and the government. |
| The final agreement on ending the 52-year-old war will be signed next month. | The final agreement on ending the 52-year-old war will be signed next month. |
| Farc leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timoleon Jimenez or Timochenko, gave the order to stop firing. | Farc leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timoleon Jimenez or Timochenko, gave the order to stop firing. |
| "Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war,'' Timochenko told journalists. "All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past," he said. | "Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war,'' Timochenko told journalists. "All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past," he said. |
| Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed a decree earlier to halt military operations against the Farc, also from midnight. | Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed a decree earlier to halt military operations against the Farc, also from midnight. |
| "One of the country's most painful chapters" was coming to an end, he said in a tweet on Sunday, calling the ceasefire a "historic step". | "One of the country's most painful chapters" was coming to an end, he said in a tweet on Sunday, calling the ceasefire a "historic step". |
| Crucial milestone: Analysis by Will Grant, BBC News, Havana | Crucial milestone: Analysis by Will Grant, BBC News, Havana |
| In one sense, the Farc's announcement of a total ceasefire is purely procedural. In another, it is a historic moment towards a lasting peace. It is procedural in that the bilateral ceasefire had already been agreed and there has in effect been a truce on the ground for several months. | In one sense, the Farc's announcement of a total ceasefire is purely procedural. In another, it is a historic moment towards a lasting peace. It is procedural in that the bilateral ceasefire had already been agreed and there has in effect been a truce on the ground for several months. |
| But the definitive ceasefire was supposed to come into force the day after the final peace agreement was signed by President Santos and the leader of the Farc, Timoleon Jimenez - an event expected in Cartagena at the end of September. This moves that forward in a gesture of goodwill on both sides. | But the definitive ceasefire was supposed to come into force the day after the final peace agreement was signed by President Santos and the leader of the Farc, Timoleon Jimenez - an event expected in Cartagena at the end of September. This moves that forward in a gesture of goodwill on both sides. |
| It is historic in that - finally - it brings to an end more than 50 years of conflict which left an estimated 260,000 people dead and millions internally displaced. These milestones are crucial for the Colombian peace process. | It is historic in that - finally - it brings to an end more than 50 years of conflict which left an estimated 260,000 people dead and millions internally displaced. These milestones are crucial for the Colombian peace process. |
| Perhaps more important is what comes next: a popular vote on the agreement in early October. That will decide the fate of the years of negotiation in Havana and, in the process, the political futures of both President Santos and the Farc. | Perhaps more important is what comes next: a popular vote on the agreement in early October. That will decide the fate of the years of negotiation in Havana and, in the process, the political futures of both President Santos and the Farc. |
| A peace agreement was announced on Wednesday in Havana, at the peace talks. | A peace agreement was announced on Wednesday in Havana, at the peace talks. |
| Farc fighters will ratify the accord in September and a Colombian popular vote on the agreement will follow on 2 October. | Farc fighters will ratify the accord in September and a Colombian popular vote on the agreement will follow on 2 October. |
| Under the terms of the agreement, the Farc (the Spanish acronym for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) will give up its armed struggle and join the legal political process. | Under the terms of the agreement, the Farc (the Spanish acronym for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) will give up its armed struggle and join the legal political process. |
| In March Colombia announced the start of peace negotiations with the second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), but the rebels have yet to meet the government's precondition of releasing all of their hostages and stop all kidnapping. | In March Colombia announced the start of peace negotiations with the second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), but the rebels have yet to meet the government's precondition of releasing all of their hostages and stop all kidnapping. |
| The Farc's 52-year fight | The Farc's 52-year fight |
| 1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party | 1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party |
| 2002: At its height, with an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country | 2002: At its height, with an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country |
| 2008: The group's worst year, when it suffered a series of bitter defeats | 2008: The group's worst year, when it suffered a series of bitter defeats |
| 2012: Start of peace talks in Havana | 2012: Start of peace talks in Havana |
| 2016: Definitive ceasefire | 2016: Definitive ceasefire |
| Are you in Colombia? Can the ceasefire be maintained? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Colombia? Can the ceasefire be maintained? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
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