Colombia Declares National Mourning After Vice President's Assassination
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
Add AP News on Google
Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Share
- Copy Link copied
Bluesky
BOGOTA A (AP) — President Colombian Gustavo Petro declares Monday national mourning for the death of former vice president Germán Vargas Llerras and journalist Mateo Pérez presumed killed by a dissident group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, incidents occurring last week.
The national mourning decree announced by Petro from the social platform X, where he expressed sorrow over both deaths.
Vargas Llerras, an opponent of Petro, died on Friday at age 64 after weeks of hospital care at Santa Fe de Bogotá’s home treatment facility. In 2016, when serving as vice president, he underwent radiation therapy and brain tumor surgery.
National mourning coincides with funeral rites in Bogotá’s cathedral after his body remained unburied for days at the Palace of San Carlos, where relatives and political figures bid farewell. Vargas Llerras aspired to follow his maternal grandfather, liberal leader Carlos Lleras Restrepo, who governed 1966–1970 but never became president despite two bids. He instead built a distinguished career as senator, minister, vice president under Juan Manuel Santos, and head of the Change Radical Party.
Shots heard in Senate of Philippines in attempt to arrest senator
1 MIN READ
King Charles III presents government agenda amid growing pressure on Starmer
4 MIN READ
Israeli drones on highway south of Beirut kill 8 including 2 children Israeli drone attacks on highway south of Beirut kill 8 including 2 children
1 MIN READ
In parallel, Petro declares national mourning for journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda, whose body was recovered last week during an ICRC humanitarian mission in rural Antioquia, northwest country.
Read More
