Columbia poll could shatter peace deal

Colombians voted yesterday in a deeply divisive presidential ballot that has stirred concern the winner could upset a fragile peace accord with Marxist FARC rebels and risk a returning to fighting.

In the first election since a controversial peace deal was signed in 2016, voters will decide who will replace Juan Manuel Santos, the president who won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending a 53-year conflict.

Ivan Duque, the leading Rightwing candidate, has pledged to alter the deal and jail rebels for war crimes.

Leftist Gustavo Petro, his nearest rival, has provoked alarm with pledges to redistribute wealth.

If no candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the vote, the top two will face a run-off on June 17.