President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Tuesday a preliminary accord with Colombia's main leftist rebel group to launch talks aimed at ending a stubborn, century-old conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, according to AP. In a nationally televised speech, Santos called the agreement a roadmap to "a definitive peace" and said it was reached after six months of direct talks in Cuba, with that country's government and Norway serving as brokers following a year and a half of preparatory work. The talks to end the Western Hemisphere's longest-running conflict will begin in the first half of October in Oslo, Norway, and continue in Havana, Santos said. FARC leaders held a news conference later Tuesday in Havana. -- SPA
