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| Colombia referendum: Voters reject Farc peace deal | Colombia referendum: Voters reject Farc peace deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Voters in Colombia have rejected a landmark peace deal with Farc rebels in a shock referendum result, with 50.24% voting against it. | Voters in Colombia have rejected a landmark peace deal with Farc rebels in a shock referendum result, with 50.24% voting against it. |
| The deal was signed last week by President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez after nearly four years of negotiations. | The deal was signed last week by President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez after nearly four years of negotiations. |
| But it needed to be ratified by Colombians in order to come into force. | But it needed to be ratified by Colombians in order to come into force. |
| Addressing the nation, President Santos said he accepted the result but would continue working to achieve peace. | |
| He said the current ceasefire remained in place and that he had ordered negotiators to travel to Cuba to consult Farc leaders on the next move. | He said the current ceasefire remained in place and that he had ordered negotiators to travel to Cuba to consult Farc leaders on the next move. |
| "I won't give up," he said. "I'll continue the search for peace until the last moment of my mandate because that's the way to leave a better country to our children." | |
| Meanwhile the Farc leader, known as Timochenko, said the group remained committed to securing an end to the war. | Meanwhile the Farc leader, known as Timochenko, said the group remained committed to securing an end to the war. |
| The rebels earlier agreed to lay down their weapons after 52 years of conflict to join the political process. | The rebels earlier agreed to lay down their weapons after 52 years of conflict to join the political process. |
| But critics said the deal treated the Farc, which the US still considers a terrorist group, too leniently. | But critics said the deal treated the Farc, which the US still considers a terrorist group, too leniently. |
| The agreement was rejected with 50.2% of voters against it and 49.8% in favour - a difference of less than 63,000 votes out of 13 million ballots. Turnout was low at 37%. | |
| The surprise result means the peace process is now shrouded by uncertainty. | The surprise result means the peace process is now shrouded by uncertainty. |
| Former Vice-President Francisco Santos, who opposed the deal, said he hoped a better agreement would follow. | Former Vice-President Francisco Santos, who opposed the deal, said he hoped a better agreement would follow. |
| "The "no" victory is a victory for peace with justice, it is a victory for a peace with pardon and reconciliation. The triumph of the "no" is the triumph of a more inclusive peace, peace which includes us all, a more stable peace," he said. | "The "no" victory is a victory for peace with justice, it is a victory for a peace with pardon and reconciliation. The triumph of the "no" is the triumph of a more inclusive peace, peace which includes us all, a more stable peace," he said. |
| President Juan Manuel Santos had previously warned that there was no plan B for ending the war, which has killed 260,000 people. | |
| The result is a major setback to the president, who since his election in 2010 had pledged to end a conflict blamed for displacing about eight million people. | The result is a major setback to the president, who since his election in 2010 had pledged to end a conflict blamed for displacing about eight million people. |
| Less than a week ago, he was celebrating with world leaders and Farc commanders the end of Latin America's last and longest-running armed conflict at a ceremony in the historic city of Cartagena. | Less than a week ago, he was celebrating with world leaders and Farc commanders the end of Latin America's last and longest-running armed conflict at a ceremony in the historic city of Cartagena. |
| The rebels were making plans to lay down their weapons and become a political party within six months. | The rebels were making plans to lay down their weapons and become a political party within six months. |
| But the president is now facing one of the most difficult moments in Colombia's recent history, says the BBC's Americas Editor Leonardo Rocha. | But the president is now facing one of the most difficult moments in Colombia's recent history, says the BBC's Americas Editor Leonardo Rocha. |
| If he sticks to his word about there being no plan B, the bilateral ceasefire will be lifted and the war will resume, our correspondent says. | If he sticks to his word about there being no plan B, the bilateral ceasefire will be lifted and the war will resume, our correspondent says. |
| 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 |
| The 297-page peace deal is a deeply divisive issue in Colombia, and the government has been accused of taking victory for granted. | The 297-page peace deal is a deeply divisive issue in Colombia, and the government has been accused of taking victory for granted. |
| Many of those opposed to the deal were angry that it would have spared the rebels time in prison when they were responsible for so many deaths and displacements. | Many of those opposed to the deal were angry that it would have spared the rebels time in prison when they were responsible for so many deaths and displacements. |
| The government tried to offset these concerns throughout the referendum campaign by spending heavily on television adverts in addition to staging concerts and peace rallies throughout the country in a bid to get people out to vote. | The government tried to offset these concerns throughout the referendum campaign by spending heavily on television adverts in addition to staging concerts and peace rallies throughout the country in a bid to get people out to vote. |
| It called on the support of U2's Bono and former Beatle Ringo Starr - and for the first time in an election made ballots available in Braille so blind Colombians could vote. | It called on the support of U2's Bono and former Beatle Ringo Starr - and for the first time in an election made ballots available in Braille so blind Colombians could vote. |