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Nobel Peace Prize for Colombia's Juan Manuel Santos Nobel Peace Prize for Colombia's Juan Manuel Santos
(35 minutes later)
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the 52-year conflict with left-wing rebels.Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the 52-year conflict with left-wing rebels.
The Nobel committee in Norway praised him for his peace agreement with Farc rebels, signed last month after four years of negotiations. The Nobel committee in Norway praised him for a peace deal signed with Farc rebels which was rejected by Colombians in a popular vote.
However, Colombians narrowly rejected the deal in a vote last weekend. Mr Santos said he dedicated the award to "all the victims of the conflict".
The conflict has killed about 260,000 people. More than six million have been internally displaced. About 260,000 people have been killed and more than six million internally displaced in Colombia.
Mr Santos was selected from a list of 376 candidates - 228 were individuals and 148 were organisations. They included: The award did not include Farc leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timochenko, who also signed the accord.
The award did not include Farc leader Rodrigo Londono, known as Timochenko, who signed the accord with Mr Santos. The Nobel committee chairwoman, said it recognised the president's "resolute efforts" to end the conflict.
"The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process," she added.
Juan Manuel SantosJuan Manuel Santos
Sources: BBC Monitoring, Colombian presidencySources: BBC Monitoring, Colombian presidency
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his resolute efforts to bring the country's more than 50-year-long civil war to an end," said committee chairwoman Kaci Kullmann Five. Mr Santos said on Twitter: "This honourable distinction is not for me, it's for all the victims of the conflict. Together we'll win the most important award of them all: peace."
"The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process," she added. The peace deal was rejected by 50.2% of voters who went to the polls on 2 October.
The committee acknowledged the result, saying: "What the 'No' side rejected was not the desire for peace, but a specific peace agreement."
It also said that finding a balance between the need for reconciliation and ensuring justice for the victims would be a difficult challenge.
Also on Twitter, Farc leader Timochenko said: "The only prize we aspire to is peace with social justice for Colombia, without (right-wing) paramilitary groups, without retaliation or lies. Peace in the streets."
A deal that wasn't: By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondentA deal that wasn't: By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
This was a Peace Prize for a peace deal that wasn't. President Santos joins a long line of Nobel Peace Prize winners who have been rewarded for effort as much as achievement.This was a Peace Prize for a peace deal that wasn't. President Santos joins a long line of Nobel Peace Prize winners who have been rewarded for effort as much as achievement.
But it is too easy to be cynical. The Nobel Peace Prize has often been controversial. In recent years a variety of international bureaucracies have won - the EU, the IAEA and the OPCW.But it is too easy to be cynical. The Nobel Peace Prize has often been controversial. In recent years a variety of international bureaucracies have won - the EU, the IAEA and the OPCW.
Why, some have argued, should people get a prize for simply doing their job? What, others ask, had US President Barack Obama actually done to merit the prize in 2009, other than be elected?Why, some have argued, should people get a prize for simply doing their job? What, others ask, had US President Barack Obama actually done to merit the prize in 2009, other than be elected?
But the Nobel has often gone to extraordinary individuals who really have gone above and beyond to bring peace - in Northern Ireland and East Timor to name just two examples. Maybe the award to President Santos may yet galvanise public opinion in Colombia to think again about the deal.But the Nobel has often gone to extraordinary individuals who really have gone above and beyond to bring peace - in Northern Ireland and East Timor to name just two examples. Maybe the award to President Santos may yet galvanise public opinion in Colombia to think again about the deal.
Mr Santos has yet to publicly react to the announcement. But the secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said: "He was overwhelmed. He was very grateful".
"He said it was of invaluable importance to further the peace process in Colombia," Olav Njoelstad told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK after talking to him on the phone.
The peace deal was rejected by 50.2% of voters who went to the polls on 2 October.
The committee acknowledged the result, saying: "What the 'No' side rejected was not the desire for peace, but a specific peace agreement."
It also said that finding a balance between the need for reconciliation and ensuring justice for the victims would be a difficult challenge.
Critics, led by former president Alvaro Uribe, said the deal was too lenient to the rebels.Critics, led by former president Alvaro Uribe, said the deal was too lenient to the rebels.
Under the agreement, special courts would have been created to try crimes committed during the conflict.Under the agreement, special courts would have been created to try crimes committed during the conflict.
Those who confessed would have received lighter sentences and avoided serving any time in conventional prisons.Those who confessed would have received lighter sentences and avoided serving any time in conventional prisons.
The Farc would also have been guaranteed 10 seats in the Colombian Congress in the 2018 and 2022 elections.The Farc would also have been guaranteed 10 seats in the Colombian Congress in the 2018 and 2022 elections.
Despite the rejection by voters, Mr Santos vowed to continue with talks with the rebels.
Government negotiators have already returned to the Cuban capital Havana for further discussions with Farc leaders.
The Farc's 52-year fightThe Farc's 52-year fight
1964: Set up as armed wing of Communist Party1964: 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 was kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages2002: At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages
2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year2008: The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year
2012: Start of peace talks in Havana2012: Start of peace talks in Havana
2016: Definitive ceasefire2016: Definitive ceasefire
Full timeline of Farc conflictFull timeline of Farc conflict
Despite the rejection by voters, Mr Santos vowed to continue with talks with the rebels. Mr Santos was selected from a list of 376 candidates - 228 were individuals and 148 were organisations. They included:
Government negotiators have already returned to the Cuban capital Havana for further discussions with Farc leaders.
How the prize is decidedHow the prize is decided
Why are Nobel laureates getting older?Why are Nobel laureates getting older?
Winners throughout the yearsWinners throughout the years
The main candidates for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize