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| Colombia peace deal: Historic agreement signing under way | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Colombian government and left-wing Farc rebels are signing a historic agreement deal that formally brings an end to 52 years of civil war. | |
| The last of the major Cold War conflicts killed 260,000 people and left six million internally displaced. | The last of the major Cold War conflicts killed 260,000 people and left six million internally displaced. |
| President Juan Manuel Santos and rebel leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, will use a pen made from a bullet to sign the deal. | |
| The president says the deal will boost economic growth and unite the country. | The president says the deal will boost economic growth and unite the country. |
| "War is always more costly than peace," he said in an interview with the BBC, warning that it will take time for Colombian society to recover from more than five decades of conflict. | "War is always more costly than peace," he said in an interview with the BBC, warning that it will take time for Colombian society to recover from more than five decades of conflict. |
| The deal must pass a referendum next week before it can pass into law. Polls indicate the majority of Colombians will vote for it, although there has been some opposition, led by two ex-presidents. | |
| Under the deal, the Farc will be relaunched as a political party. The entire peace agreement will be put to Colombian voters in a popular vote on 2 October. | |
| It comes after four years of talks in Havana, Cuba, between President Santos and Timochenko. | |
| About 2,500 foreign and local dignitaries witnessed the signing ceremony in the walled, colonial city of Cartagena. | |
| The president said the decision to use a bullet-pen was intended to illustrate Colombia's transition from a country of bullets into a country of "education and future". | The president said the decision to use a bullet-pen was intended to illustrate Colombia's transition from a country of bullets into a country of "education and future". |
| Correspondents say President Santos has risked his political future on the success of the peace deal. | Correspondents say President Santos has risked his political future on the success of the peace deal. |
| Who are the Farc? | Who are the Farc? |
| President Santos: From hawk to dove | President Santos: From hawk to dove |
| The guerrilla leader who talks peace | The guerrilla leader who talks peace |
| Female Farc fighter on abortions in the army | Female Farc fighter on abortions in the army |
| Dignitaries attending the ceremony include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban President Raul Castro. | Dignitaries attending the ceremony include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban President Raul Castro. |
| "This step that your country is going to take is a giant step," Mr Kerry said as he arrived in the country. | "This step that your country is going to take is a giant step," Mr Kerry said as he arrived in the country. |
| He praised the efforts of Mr Santos to secure the deal and and pledged $390m (£300m) to help implement it. | He praised the efforts of Mr Santos to secure the deal and and pledged $390m (£300m) to help implement it. |
| The US is not yet ready to remove the Farc from its list of terrorist organisations, he said, but is prepared to review that sanction once the peace agreement is up and running. | The US is not yet ready to remove the Farc from its list of terrorist organisations, he said, but is prepared to review that sanction once the peace agreement is up and running. |
| However only hours before the signing, the EU announced it was removing the Farc from its list. | |
| "This decision will allow us to support the post-conflict programme and will be of benefit to all Colombians." the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on social media. | |
| Correspondents say that although there is widespread relief that the deal may bring an end to the kidnappings and bloodshed that have blighted Colombia over five decades, it has also led to divisions in Latin America's fourth-biggest economy. | Correspondents say that although there is widespread relief that the deal may bring an end to the kidnappings and bloodshed that have blighted Colombia over five decades, it has also led to divisions in Latin America's fourth-biggest economy. |
| Some are angry that it allows rebels to enter parliament without serving time in prison. | Some are angry that it allows rebels to enter parliament without serving time in prison. |
| Farc rebels must now hand over weapons to the UN within 180 days. | Farc rebels must now hand over weapons to the UN within 180 days. |
| 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, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages | 2002: At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages |
| 2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year | 2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year |
| 2012: Start of peace talks in Havana | 2012: Start of peace talks in Havana |
| 2016: Definitive ceasefire | 2016: Definitive ceasefire |
| Full timeline of Farc conflict | Full timeline of Farc conflict |