Colombian ex President Betancur, who sought peace with rebels, dies
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 7, 2018 / 5:16 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Colombian ex President Betancur, who sought peace with rebels, dies
Helen Murphy
3 MIN READ
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Former Colombian President Belisario Betancur, who attempted to broker peace with leftist rebels during his administration, died on Friday at the age of 95, the Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota hospital said.
The hospital did not provide a cause of death, but media reports said he had been admitted with kidney problems.
Betancur, a member of the Conservative party who served from 1982 to 1986 - one of Colombias bloodiest periods - had sought a negotiated peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and M-19 rebels.
Talks with M-19 ended abruptly in November 1985, when the rebel group stormed the Supreme Court and took hundreds of hostages, including the justices. About 100 people died in the siege when the military raided the building, 12 of whom were magistrates
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-betancur/colombian-ex-president-betancur-who-sought-peace-with-rebels-dies-idUSKBN1O62GQ