Colombia’s first leftist president declares ‘the war on drugs has failed’

Colombia’s first leftist president declared ‘the war on drugs has failed’ as he was sworn into office on Sunday (Fernando Vergara/AP)

Colombia’s first leftist president declared “the war on drugs has failed” as he was sworn into office on Sunday.

Gustavo Petro, a former member of Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group, promised to fight inequality and bring peace to a country long-haunted by bloody feuds between the government, drug traffickers and rebels.