Colombia has been dropped from the list of Nobel Peace Prize favourites after the country voted against the peace treaty between the government and the nation's largest rebel group, Farc (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), Reuters reported on Monday. Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, said, "Colombia's off any credible list." The Colombian war has been going on for the past 52 years. The referendum was held on October 2.

With Colombia out of the fray, Russian human rights activists or brokers of Iran's nuclear deal stand a better chance at bagging the coveted prize. Harpviken said Russian human rights campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina as one of her favourites for the prize worth 8 million Swedish crown (Rs 6.2 crore approximately). She works on issues related to refugees and migrants.

On Sunday, Colombian voters rejected the peace treaty between the government and the country’s largest rebel group, Farc (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). The deal was rejected by 50.2% of voters, with 49.8% approving it. Thirteen million ballots were cast in the referendum to approve the treaty, which ended a 52-year-long civil war in the South American country.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said that while he accepted the result, he would continue to work towards securing peace for the country. Santos said the ceasefire between the two sides will continue to remain in place, with government negotiators being ordered to travel to Cuba to consult the rebel group on the matter. Farc leader Timochenko said the group was committed to ending the war.