Colombia, FARC try to salvage peace deal

BOGOTA, Colombia — President Juan Manuel Santos is moving quickly on two fronts to save a peace deal narrowly rejected by Colombian voters, holding talks in Cuba with leftist rebels while inviting his chief opponent for a rare faceto-face meeting.

Government officials led by chief negotiator Humberto de la Calle met with their counterparts from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on Tuesday in Cuba’s capital to check on the rebels’ willingness to reopen negotiations.

There was no immediate comment from the government or the FARC.

Any renegotiation would likely lead to tougher terms for the rebels than the ones in the accord reached in August.

Ever since the deal was narrowly rejected Sunday in a referendum, FARC leaders have made clear they have no intention of resuming warfare but also insisted the vote has no legal implications and the deal signed last month in front of several heads of state is final.