Colombia and Farc rebels sign historic peace agreement

Five decades of conflict come to an end as the Colombian government and the Farc rebel group sign a historic peace agreement

Cuban president Raul Castro, centre, seals the handshake between Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, left, and the head of the Farc Timochenko, right, on Wednesday
Cuban president Raul Castro, centre, seals the handshake between Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, left, and the head of the Farc Timochenko, right, on Wednesday

The Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have signed a historic peace agreement, putting an end to more than five decades of conflict.

Both sides have agreed to work together to address social exclusion, to deliver justice to the victims of the conflict and build a stable and enduring peace.

The announcement was made in the Cuban capital, Havana, where peace talks were launched in November 2012.

An estimated 220,000 people were killed in the conflict, with millions displaced.

"The Colombian government and the Farc announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord," they said in a joint statement.

The head of the Colombian delegation, Humberto de la Calle, and the chief Farc negotiator, Ivan Marquez, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Cuba.

The two sides had signed a bilateral ceasefire in June, paving the way for a final agreement.