Colombia peace deal begins

A permanent ceasefire has taken effect in Colombia, the latest step in bringing an end to 52 years of bloody combat between the government and the country’s biggest rebel group.

The commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia announced that his fighters ceased hostilities beginning at 12.01am yesterday as a result of the peace accord the sides reached last week.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos made a similar announcement, saying the military would halt attacks on the Farc beginning yesterday.