100 Colombian guerrillas disarm in deal with leftist government

About 100 guerrillas laid down their weapons Thursday in a jungle area of southern Colombia under a deal with leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has sought peace with armed rebels. Some 99 rebels from the National Coordinating Committee of the Bolivarian Army surrendered their arms in the southern department of Putumayo, three days before a runoff election that will determine the country's next president.

It represents the most significant success of Petro's "total peace" plan, after his failed attempts to reach agreements with the country's armed groups. The gesture is a first step for them to seek agreements with the government on disarmament and their legal status.