The Colombian Congress has approved a
law offering amnesty to some of those accused of minor crimes in the
country's decades-long civil conflict.
President Juan Manuel
Santos hailed it as a "the first step towards the consolidation of
peace" with the left-wing Farc guerrilla group.The amnesty is part of a revised deal agreed after the original pact with the Farc was rejected in a popular vote.
The conflict has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced millions.
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Thousands of guerrilla fighters who are accused of minor crimes stand to be pardoned under the law.
The original peace deal, rejected at a referendum on 2 October, was seen by many as too lenient towards the rebels.
The government and the Farc then went back to the negotiating table to try to strike a new deal acceptable to those who had voted "no".
The main amendments included:
- The Farc will have to declare all their assets and hand them over. The money will be used for reparation payments for the victims of the conflict
- Concerns by religious groups that the agreement undermined family values have been addressed
- A time limit of 10 years has been set for the transitional justice system
- Farc rebels will be expected to provide exhaustive information about any drug trafficking they may have been involved in
- The peace agreement will not form part of Colombia's constitution
The revised peace deal was ratified by Congress on 1 December. It is not due to be submitted to a popular vote.
Mr Santos has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in the negotiations.
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