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Colombia's Farc hand over a further 30% of weapons | Colombia's Farc hand over a further 30% of weapons |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Colombia's Farc rebel group has handed over a further 30% of its weapons to United Nations inspectors as part of the historic peace accord it signed last year. | Colombia's Farc rebel group has handed over a further 30% of its weapons to United Nations inspectors as part of the historic peace accord it signed last year. |
President Juan Manuel Santos said the gesture showed that the agreement with the rebels was going ahead as planned. | President Juan Manuel Santos said the gesture showed that the agreement with the rebels was going ahead as planned. |
The Farc have now decommissioned 60% of their weapons. | The Farc have now decommissioned 60% of their weapons. |
Under the terms of the accord, the Farc has agreed to give up more than five decades of armed struggle. | Under the terms of the accord, the Farc has agreed to give up more than five decades of armed struggle. |
"This is a historic day. Peace will be built little by little, like a cathedral, which you build brick by brick," said Mr Santos. | "This is a historic day. Peace will be built little by little, like a cathedral, which you build brick by brick," said Mr Santos. |
Analysis: Natalio Cosoy, BBC News, Bogota | |
It was not exactly the picture many Colombians were expecting to see - but it is at least a picture. | |
Up until now the disarmament of the Farc had been only told with words: words from the rebel group, from the government and from the UN, who confirmed the weapons had been handed over and put in safe containers. | |
But now, finally, images of rifles, RPGs and pistols being checked and stored by a UN observer has been seen. | |
Some might still think that that is not enough, that the Farc should explicitly show how they renounce their weapons: they want photographs of fighters handing their rifles to the UN. | |
But the Farc insist that would be an image of defeat, one they do not want to convey. They insist they have reached a deal, not surrendered. | |
And many in Colombia believe today's image is more than enough. | |
'Totally committed' | 'Totally committed' |
He was due to attend the decommissioning ceremony in south-western Cauca region, but could not reach the area because of bad weather. | He was due to attend the decommissioning ceremony in south-western Cauca region, but could not reach the area because of bad weather. |
It went ahead with Farc leaders and UN officials at La Elvira, one of several transition zones where Farc rebels have been gathering before they are allowed to rejoin civilian life. | It went ahead with Farc leaders and UN officials at La Elvira, one of several transition zones where Farc rebels have been gathering before they are allowed to rejoin civilian life. |
"We are totally committed to peace and will do all we can to help build this country we dream of," said a Farc leader at the event, Pablo Catatumbo. | "We are totally committed to peace and will do all we can to help build this country we dream of," said a Farc leader at the event, Pablo Catatumbo. |
The weapons are to be stored at 26 locations around the country. | The weapons are to be stored at 26 locations around the country. |
Thousands of rifles and pistols need to be handed over before the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - can become a political party. | Thousands of rifles and pistols need to be handed over before the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - can become a political party. |
Farc rebels have until 20 June to hand over all their weapons - a deadline that was extended from an original date of 30 May. | Farc rebels have until 20 June to hand over all their weapons - a deadline that was extended from an original date of 30 May. |
The peace deal was signed after four years of negotiations, held in Cuba. | The peace deal was signed after four years of negotiations, held in Cuba. |
It was initially rejected in a referendum last October, then reworked a month later and approved by Congress before beginning to be implemented. | It was initially rejected in a referendum last October, then reworked a month later and approved by Congress before beginning to be implemented. |
For his efforts to reach peace with the Farc, Mr Santos was awarded last year's Nobel Peace Prize. | For his efforts to reach peace with the Farc, Mr Santos was awarded last year's Nobel Peace Prize. |