Colombia extends ceasefire with rebels to save peace deal

FILE – In this Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 file photo Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos makes the victory sign after voting in a referendum to decide whether or not to support the peace deal he signed with rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, in Bogota, Colombia. Colombia’s government and rebels from the National Liberation Army have agreed to revive a stalled peace effort, providing a boost to President Juan Manuel Santos as he tries to recover from voters’ shocking rejection of a deal with the much-larger FARC guerrilla group, it was announced on Monday, Oct. 10. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Juan Manuel Santos is extending a ceasefire with Colombia’s largest rebel movement in a bid to give more time to efforts to save a peace deal rejected by voters.

Santos said in a televised address Thursday that he was extending the ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia until Dec. 31.

He made the announcement after meeting with students who have been organizing demonstrations to demand the accord be implemented immediately despite it being rejected in a referendum.

Santos is engaged in three-way talks with the FARC and the opposition to find ways to adjust the accord so that it enjoys broader support.

He insisted the new date for the ceasefire to expire isn’t a deadline and that hopefully talks will succeed before then.