Colombians demand an end to wave of activist killings

Thousands of Colombians are gathering in plazas across the country to demand an end to a wave of killings of activists that threatens to undermine a fragile peace process.

People lighted candles to draw attention to the 311 rural activists and human rights defenders that Colombian authorities say have been killed since 2016. That's the year a peace deal was signed with leftist rebels.

The protest comes a little more than two weeks after the presidential election victory by conservative Ivan Duque, who has criticized aspects of the accord.

The gatherings were prodded by the killing of a campaign coordinator for Duque's leftist rival in the polarizing race. Ana Maria Cortes died Tuesday when an unidentified attacker shot her at a coffee shop in the town of Caceres.