Colombia, FARC rebels vow to reach peace deal by March 2016
Source: Reuters
Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:53pm EDT
Colombia, FARC rebels vow to reach peace deal by March 2016
HAVANA | By Nelson Acosta and Daniel Trotta
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the top FARC rebel commander pledged on Wednesday to end Latin America's longest war within six months and sealed their pact with a handshake likely to stand as a lasting image.
Santos and FARC rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by the nom de guerre Timochenko, also agreed the leftist guerrillas would lay down arms within 60 days of signing the deal, which now has an official deadline of March 23, 2016. If successful, it would end a conflict that has killed 220,000 and displaced millions since 1964.
The two sides have been in peace talks in Havana for nearly three years, but this was the first time Santos had come to Cuba and his first meeting with Timochenko.
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"We won't fail. The time for peace has arrived."
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/24/us-colombia-rebels-idUSKCN0RN1HB20150924?rpc=401