Colombia's government and leftist FARC rebels signed a final peace deal on Wednesday to end a 50-year-old guerrilla war, one of the world's longest conflicts which took the resource-rich country to the brink of collapse.
The two sides said they had reached an agreement to end the conflict and build a stable peace, in a joint statement read out by representatives of Cuba and Norway, who are mediators in the talks.
The historic accord foresees the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), whose cocaine-funded rebels fought the government in a war that killed at least 220,000 people. Tens of thousands disappeared and millions fled their homes because of the violence.
The deal, opposed by two former Colombian presidents, still needs to be voted on in a referendum before it becomes law.
Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back it. Still, Santos, who has staked his legacy on peace, will have to fight hard for a "yes" given fierce opposition from powerful sectors of the country who think the only solution is to crush the FARC militarily.
A previous round of talks, under Pastrana between 1999 and 2002, collapsed after the guerrillas hijacked an airplane. The two sides signed a ceasefire in late June, including guidelines on how the FARC would lay down weapons.
Since then talks have focused on the rebels' future political participation, the reintegration of fighters into civil society, and details on how the international community will monitor the implementation of the agreements.
