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-38165752
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Colombian Congress ratifies new Farc peace accord | Colombian Congress ratifies new Farc peace accord |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Colombia's Congress has approved a revised peace accord to end the 50-year conflict between the government and the Farc rebel group. | |
The lower house ratified the pact a day after it was endorsed by the Senate, despite objections from the opposition. | |
The deal aims to end an armed conflict that has killed more than 260,000 people over five decades. | |
The first peace accord was rejected in a referendum, but the revised version does not require a popular vote. | |
President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed what he called "landmark backing" for a start to the process by which thousands of Farc fighters will leave jungle camps and lay down their arms. | President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed what he called "landmark backing" for a start to the process by which thousands of Farc fighters will leave jungle camps and lay down their arms. |
The rebels are due to move to transition zones over the next six months, hand in their weapons and form a political party. | |
The army will move into former Farc-controlled territory to prevent drug traffickers from taking it over. | The army will move into former Farc-controlled territory to prevent drug traffickers from taking it over. |
Both sides reached a peace agreement earlier this year after four years of talks in the Cuban capital, Havana. | |
But the public voted by a narrow margin not to approve the deal when it was put to a referendum in October. | |
Opponents to the deal said it gave too many concessions to the Farc, including leniency for those who had committed crimes during the conflict. | |
In the wake of the surprise referendum result, the government and rebel leaders made changes to the deal. | |
President Santos says the new proposals are stronger and take into account changes demanded by opponents of the scheme. | |
The opponents, led by former President Alvaro Uribe, say the revised deal is still too lenient on Farc leaders. |