Latin America

Colombians will choose between a leftist former guerrilla and a young conservative lawmaker today in a presidential election to decide who will lead the nation as it implements a still-fragile peace accord. One-time militant and former Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro and frontrunner Ivan Duque harbour contrasting views on the historic accord ending Latin America’s longest-running conflict and could significantly shape how Colombia proceeds with putting key aspects of it into motion. Petro is vowing to uphold the 310-page accord while Duque wants to make changes like requiring ex-combatants to serve time before entering politics if they are guilty of crimes against humanity. Under the final agreement, rebels who fully confess and offer reparations to victims are unlikely to be sent behind bars. “Undoubtedly, for the peace process, this is an important test,” said Patricia Munoz, a professor of political science at the Pontifical Xavierian University.

Six people have been killed in Nicaragua by suspected paramilitary officers loyal to President Daniel Ortega amid ongoing talks aimed at ending weeks of unrest. Nicaraguan Fire Chief Ramon Landero said that masked men threw Molotov cocktails into a three-storey house, killing four adults and two children. A survivor told a local news station that officers wanted to use the house as a sniper’s perch.

Six police officers have been shot dead in the central Mexico state of Puebla by suspected fuel thieves. Puebla state security secretary Jesus Morales vowed to investigate the incident and said police had arrested two suspects. A vehicle carrying natural gas was recuperated from the area near where the officers were killed.