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Rebels hand in more than half arms in Colombia

Handout picture released by the United Nations showing a member of the UN international observers' mission in Colombia holding a weapon surrendered by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as part of the peace process

The final 40 percent of weapons, to be stored at 26 points around the South American country, are due to be surrendered on June 20.

"Demobilization is being achieved at a very fast rate," President Juan Manuel Santos said to mark a ceremony in La Elvira, Cauca department. Bad weather kept him from attending in person.

The peace accord was reached in August of last year but Colombian voters rejected it by a narrow margin in a referendum a few months later. Some argued the accord went too easy on the rebel force.

Santos and FARC leaders then drafted a new version before the government pushed it through Congress.

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The Colombian conflict erupted in 1964 when the FARC and the ELN -- a smaller rebel group -- took up arms for rural land rights.

The violence drew in various rebel and paramilitary forces and drug gangs as well as state forces.

The conflict has left at least 260,000 people dead and displaced more than seven million, according to the authorities.

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