Colombian president, rebel chief sign cease-fire

Hava, June 24: An agreement aimed at ending more than five decades of conflict between the Colombian government and the Revolutiory Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group was signed here at a ceremony presided over by Cuban head of state Raul Castro. After the members of the respective delegations added their sigtures on Thursday, Castro handed the document to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC chief Rodrigo Londono, who shook hands amid applause, EFE news reported. The bilateral cease-fire requires FARC to lay down all of their weapons within 180 days of the conclusion of a fil peace accord, according to a joint statement read to reporters in the Cuban capital, where Colombia and the rebels have been negotiating since November 2012.

The rebels’ demobilisation, which is supposed to take place in three phases, will be monitored by an UN-supervised intertiol team. The “totality of the FARC armament” will be handed over to the UN for the construction of three monuments agreed upon by the government and the rebels, the statement said. (IANS)