Colombia's government says it will sign a new peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels on Thursday, after a previous deal was rejected in a referendum last month.

    The new revised agreement will be submitted to Congress for approval, rather than put to a popular vote, the (BBC) reported. President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC chief Rodrigo London are to sign the agreement But opposition groups say it still does not go far enough in punishing rebels for human rights abuses. 

    The deal is aimed at ending more than 50 years of civil war, in which more than 220,000 people have been killed. In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, President Juan Manuel Santos said: "We have the unique opportunity to close this painful chapter in our history that has bereaved and afflicted millions of Colombians for half a century." The original deal was signed two months ago in a ceremony before world leaders but it was rejected in a referendum on 2 October.

Source: QNA