Santos re-elected in Colombian poll

  • 10 years ago
Supporters of Juan Manuel Santos celebrate victory at the polls.

Santos won the run off for the Colombian presidency by almost 51 percent of the vote. He saw off his challenger Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who had 45 per cent.

For Santos supporters, this victory is seen as a vote for peace.

The president has been negotiating a deal to end the war with the leftist Farc rebel group and the smaller rebel group the ELN.

The FARC conflict has killed more than 200,000 people, forcing millions more from their homes.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, SAYING:

"Today's message is also for the FARC and the ELN and the message is clear, this is the end of more than 50 years of violence in our country and the start of a new Colombia with more liberty and more social justice, a Colombia in peace."

But for his opponents there's little to cheer about.

It was a close, bitter campaign. And many Colombians are outraged that FARC leaders