Colombia's Santos extends ceasefire with FARC to December 31

BOGOTA: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said a ceasefire with the country's FARC guerillas has been extended until December 31 but that he hopes to have "a new agreement" for peace before that date.

"I have made the decision to extend the bilateral ceasefire until December 31. Let this be clear: This is not an ultimatum nor a deadline, but I hope that the entire process of obtaining a new agreement will be complete well before then," the president said in a televised address.