Alvaro Uribe

That's what the US media are saying, while the Russians are reporting that the self-proclaimed leader had been recruited by Washington some ten years ago, and is nothing but a US puppet.

This information was conveyed by Venezuela's Ambassador to Russia Carlos Rafael Faria Tortosa.

Colombia's leftist FARC rebel force declared its disarmament complete on June 27 after half a century of war against the state, bringing an end to Latin America's oldest armed guerrilla force.

"Farewell to war. Farewell to arms, welcome to peace!" said commander Rodrigo Londono, alias Timochenko, in a speech in the central town of Mesetas, the group's historic base.

The Congress formally ratified a revised peace agreement with Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group, capping a torturous four years of negotiations, a stunning referendum rejection, last-minute compromises and two signing ceremonies.

The Colombian Senate has approved a revised peace accord between the government and the FARC rebel group, taking a first step toward ratifying an agreement that was rejected by voters.

The text, which was renegotiated after an earlier version was given a thumbs down in the Oct. 2 national referendum, now must be approved by the lower house of the Colombian Congress.

A new peace accord between Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels will be signed on Nov. 24 and sent to Congress for approval, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Nov. 22, bringing a formal end to the 52-year civil war ever closer. 

Two important referendums took place on Oct. 2 - one in Hungary and the other in Colombia. 

Tens of thousands of people protested in more than 20 cities across Colombia on April 2 against President Juan Manuel Santos and his government's peace process with the FARC guerrillas.

A massive landslide tore through a ravine in northwest Colombia May 18 before dawn, killing at least 61 people and injuring 37, authorities said.