- Title: Santos votes in Colombian plebiscite
- Date: 2nd October 2016
- Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (OCTOBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION SANTOS WALKING TO VOTING BOOTH SANTOS SHAKING HANDS OF ELECTORAL WORKERS POLICEMAN WATCHING ELECTORAL WORKER HANDING SANTOS HIS BALLOT PAPER SANTOS FILLING OUT VOTING BALLOT SANTOS TAKING COMPLETED BALLOT PAPER SANTOS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS PLACING HIS BALLOT PAPER IN BOX CLOSE-UP OF SANTOS DROPPING BALLOT PAPER IN BOX SANTOS STEPPING ASIDE ELECTORAL WORKER SIGNING OFF SANTOS' VOTE SANTOS TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "I hope that this historic plebiscite will change the history of this country for the better, end a 52-year war and open a path towards peace which will lead us towards a better future." STATUE POLLING BOOTH CLOSE-UP OF VOTING TABLE CLOSE-UP OF BOX WHERE VOTES ARE DEPOSITED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING: "I hope that all Colombians go out to vote, despite the rain, despite the bad weather in some places, we have to exercise this right, all of us Colombians have to vote on this historic day, because all Colombians can be protagonists of this historic change for our nation." PEOPLE AT POLLING BOOTH SANTOS LEAVING GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE QUEUING AT POLLING BOOTH
- Embargoed: 17th October 2016 15:02
- Keywords: plebiscite peace FARC Santos
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00152BAMO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos voted in a referendum on Sunday (October 2) on whether to ratify a peace agreement he has been at the front of orchestrating, to end 52 years of civil war between the state and leftist rebel forces.
Santos arrived at the polling station in central Bogota, soon after polls opened at 8 a.m. (13 G.M.T.).
Santos has campaigned extensively for the "Yes" vote in order to ratify the peace accord he signed with the highest commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Monday, after almost four years of negotiations in Havana.
"I hope that this historic plebiscite will change the history of this country for the better, end a 52-year war and open a path towards peace which will lead us towards a better future," said Santos.
A recent survey suggested 66 percent of those voting would vote "Yes". A strong camp supports the "No" vote, however, led by influential former president Alvaro Uribe who contests the amnesty, reduced penalties such as community service, cash payments and guaranteed political seats for FARC rebels as established in the peace agreement.
Santos urged all Colombians to turn out and vote.
"I hope that all Colombians go out to vote, despite the rain, despite the bad weather in some places, we have to exercise this right, all of us Colombians have to vote on this historic day, because all Colombians can be protagonists of this historic change for our nation," said Santos.
Polls close at 4 p.m. (2100 G.M.T.) and the results are expected roughly two hours later. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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