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| Colombia election: Run-off expected in first vote since Farc deal | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Colombia appears to be heading for a run-off in its presidential election after no candidate looked set to achieve 50% of the vote. | |
| With most ballots counted in Sunday's first round, conservative Ivan Duque was leading with 39.7% ahead of left-wing rival Gustavo Petro on 24.8%. | |
| It is the first election since the government signed a peace agreement with the Farc rebel group in 2016. | |
| The deal has polarised political opinion across the country. | |
| Mr Duque has opposed the peace deal, saying it is too lenient on the Farc. But Mr Petro, an ex-guerrilla and former Bogota mayor, supports the accord. | |
| Incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos cannot stand again, after serving two terms. | |
| Casting his vote in the capital Bogota, Mr Santos praised the peaceful atmosphere in which the election was taking place. | |
| "So far not a single voting station has had to be moved for security reasons," he said in a televised address. | "So far not a single voting station has had to be moved for security reasons," he said in a televised address. |
| "It's been many decades since that has happened. In other words, these elections are going to be the most secure, the calmest." | "It's been many decades since that has happened. In other words, these elections are going to be the most secure, the calmest." |
| President Santos, a centre-right politician, sought to end the decades-long conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the country's main guerrilla group. | President Santos, a centre-right politician, sought to end the decades-long conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the country's main guerrilla group. |
| The peace deal he signed in 2016 was reached after years of negotiations. But it was regarded as too lenient by many voters and rejected in a referendum. | The peace deal he signed in 2016 was reached after years of negotiations. But it was regarded as too lenient by many voters and rejected in a referendum. |
| A revised accord was approved by Congress later that year. | A revised accord was approved by Congress later that year. |
| Mr Duque has promised to reverse some of the provisions of the deal if he becomes president. | Mr Duque has promised to reverse some of the provisions of the deal if he becomes president. |
| He is an ally of former President Alvaro Uribe, who led the campaign against the agreement. | He is an ally of former President Alvaro Uribe, who led the campaign against the agreement. |
| Mr Petro, who backs the deal, would be Colombia's first-ever left-wing president if he is elected. | Mr Petro, who backs the deal, would be Colombia's first-ever left-wing president if he is elected. |
| In the 1980s he was a member of the M-19 rebel group, which disbanded itself in 1990 to become a political party. | In the 1980s he was a member of the M-19 rebel group, which disbanded itself in 1990 to become a political party. |
| Correspondents say that with the main civil conflict over, voters are much more worried about economic issues. | Correspondents say that with the main civil conflict over, voters are much more worried about economic issues. |
| The candidates have mainly campaigned on issues such as inequality, unemployment, housing and corruption. | The candidates have mainly campaigned on issues such as inequality, unemployment, housing and corruption. |
| Also standing in the election were: | |
| About 100 international observers are monitoring the elections. | About 100 international observers are monitoring the elections. |