UN body gets nod to monitor Colombia peace deal

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 03 (AP): The Security Council on Wednesday unanimously authorized the U.N. political mission in Colombia to help verify implementation of a cease-fire agreement between the government and the country's largest remaining guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army.

The council also expressed willingness to do the same if a cease-fire is reached with another armed group, the Estado Mayor Central.

The U.N. has been monitoring a 2016 peace accord between the government and Colombia's then largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. It ended more than 50 years of war in which over 220,000 people died and nearly 6 million people were displaced.

More than 14,000 FARC fighters gave up their weapons under that agreement, but violence between some rebel groups has grown in parts of Colombia.

Colombia's government asked the council to extend the U.N. mission's verification mandate to include the June cease-fire deal with the National Liberation Army. The rebel group was founded in the 1960s by union leaders, students and priests inspired by the Cuban revolution.

The Security Council said the agreement "should contribute to improving the humanitarian situation in conflict-affected areas," and it encouraged the government and the National Liberation Army "to continue strengthening the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law."