Corruption vote short

AN anti-corruption referendum in Colombia drew millions to the polls on Sunday but fell just short of a required participation threshold to push forward measures aimed at improving transparency and stiffening penalties for whitecollar criminals.

Nearly 11.7 million Colombians cast ballots overwhelmingly in favour of seven initiatives proposed to stamp out corruption in the upper echelons of power, failing to draw the 12.1 million voters needed to pass the initiatives, according to results.