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Colombian Voters Narrowly Reject FARC Peace Deal in Stunning Upset

HeadlineOct 03, 2016

In Colombia, voters have rejected a peace agreement between the government and FARC rebels in a shocking turn of events that threatens to prolong the nation’s 52-year-old civil war. The peace deal lost by a margin of 49.8 to 50.2 percent. It was a stunning upset for a referendum that was expected to pass overwhelmingly. In Havana, where peace talks have taken place over the past four years, FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño promised his movement would continue to work toward peace.

Rodrigo Londoño: “The FARC maintains its willingness for peace and reiterates its position to use only words as weapons to work toward the future. To the Colombian people, who dream of peace, you can count on us. Peace will win out.”

President Santos sent his negotiating team back to Havana for talks and said a ceasefire with the FARC would remain in effect. Many of those voting “no” objected to the peace deal’s offer of amnesty, limited immunity from prosecution, and reduced sentences granted to FARC rebels. We’ll have more on Sunday’s historic “no” vote on Colombia’s peace agreement after headlines.

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