Colombia's Petro promises peaceful handover

Colombia's outgoing President Gustavo Petro has promised a peaceful transfer of power to president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella after calling for protests before the right-wing leader takes office.

Brazil's government said Petro made the commitment in a phone call Thursday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. It said Petro confirmed he would remain in office until August 6 and reaffirmed his commitment to democracy and a peaceful transition.

Petro, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, has claimed De la Espriella's June 21 runoff victory was the result of election fraud, but he has not provided proof. International observers and electoral authorities have said the vote was clean.

Petro has called for protests on July 20, ahead of De la Espriella's August 7 inauguration. De la Espriella has accused Petro of plotting a coup and has broken off cooperation with the outgoing government on the transition.

De la Espriella, a millionaire lawyer, defeated left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda, a Petro ally, with vocal support from US President Donald Trump.