Colombia, FARC to ink deal on September 26

The final peace accord between Colombia's government and Marxist rebels will be signed on September 26 in Cartagena, President Juan Manuel Santos says, as the two sides seek to put half a century of war behind them.

Santos and long-time foe Rodrigo Londono, known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, will shake hands and sign the document in the coastal city.

The signing comes ahead of plebiscite on October 2 that will allow the people to decide whether to accept the agreement reached with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia after almost four years of negotiations in Cuba.

"I want to make an important announcement, maybe the most important announcement of my life. Peace will be signed on September 26," Santos said in Cartagena.