Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire by another six months, a statement released by both groups said. An initial six-month ceasefire expired last week and was then extended by five days. Negotiators from both sides, meeting in Havana, indicated that the Bilateral, National, and Temporary Ceasefire (BNTFC) would last 180 days.

The statement, released around midnight, said ELN had decided to "unilaterally and temporarily suspend economic detentions, a commitment that will be followed up by the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism".

Although the ELN suspended kidnapping during negotiations, its leaders asked the government for financial resources to maintain their fighters, an issue they are addressing in the talks.

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President Gustavo Petro's government restarted peace talks with the ELN in 2022 as part of a policy of "total peace" to end the South American country's six-decade conflict, in which more than 450,000 people have been killed.

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So far, Petro's government has held six rounds of peace talks with the ELN, a process supported by Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, and Chile, which are participating as guarantor countries.

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Colombia´s president is also negotiating with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest armed group of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.

Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire by another six months, a statement released by both groups said.

Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels have agreed to extend their bilateral ceasefire by another six months, a statement released by both groups said. An initial six-month ceasefire expired last week and was then extended by five days. Negotiators from both sides, meeting in Havana, indicated that the Bilateral, National, and Temporary Ceasefire (BNTFC) would last 180 days. The statement, released around midnight, said ELN had decided to "unilaterally and temporarily suspend economic detentions, a commitment that will be followed up by the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism". Although the ELN suspended kidnapping during negotiations, its leaders asked the government for financial resources to maintain their fighters, an issue they are addressing in the talks. Also Read | Google faces September trial date in US antitrust lawsuit over digital ads: Report President Gustavo Petro's government restarted peace talks with the ELN in 2022 as part of a policy of "total peace" to end the South American country's six-decade conflict, in which more than 450,000 people have been killed. Also Read | Biden has lower approval than all recent sitting presidents: Gallup poll So far, Petro's government has held six rounds of peace talks with the ELN, a process supported by Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, and Chile, which are participating as guarantor countries. Watch | European farmers say EU's green policies are 'unfair', 'unrealistic' × Colombia´s president is also negotiating with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest armed group of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.

Colombia and ELN rebels extend ceasefire by six months

Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounted Friday how he was made to walk "too much" with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group.&nbsp;

Diaz, finally liberated Thursday after calls from around the world for his freedom, told reporters at his home in the country's north he went through a "very difficult" time, surviving "almost 12 days without sleep."

Diaz's wife Cilenis Marulanda, who was taken by the same ELN kidnappers on October 28 but rescued hours later, rubbed her husband's back lovingly as he broke down in tears mid-statement.

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Behind the pair hung a string of golden balloons spelling out "Welcome Mane," his nickname, in Spanish.

Diaz walked with obvious difficulty as he arrived for the press conference, and had to be helped up from his chair afterwards and led away.

He told reporters he was not maltreated by his captors.

"I had to walk too much, up and down many mountains, trying to stay safe so that... I could return home," said the 56-year-old, who is no stranger to the mountainous region he has explored since a child.

But "this was a different story," he said Friday. "I would not want anyone to be in that mountain in the situation I was in."

Footballer Diaz's parents were abducted by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in Barrancas, a town near the Venezuelan border.

Marulanda was rescued hours later and a massive search operation by ground and air was launched for her husband, with more than 250 soldiers involved.

The ELN, which is in peace negotiations with the government and is party to a six-month ceasefire that entered into force in August, described the kidnapping by one of its units as a "mistake."

<h2>'Peace in Colombia'</h2>

On Thursday, after days of intense negotiations, the rebels handed Diaz over to humanitarian workers at an undisclosed location in the Serrania del Perija mountain range, from where he was flown by helicopter to the city of Valledupar, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) from his hometown.

Hours later, he arrived by car to neighbors celebrating with drums and trumpet music outside his home, which was under police guard.

On Friday, Diaz told reporters he hoped his release was a step towards "peace in Colombia and so that everyone, and all the hostages, will have a chance to be free."

The abduction threatened to derail high-stakes peace negotiations between the ELN and the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro.

Petro took office last August with the stated goal of achieving "total peace" in a country ravaged by decades of fighting between the security forces, leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs.

More than 38,000 people have been kidnapped in Colombia over the years, mainly by armed groups raising funds with ransom money.

According to official data, the ELN still holds about 30 hostages.

Colombia's rights ombudsman Carlos Camargo said Friday the practice must be stopped as part of "fixed conditions" for successful peace talks.

But an ELN leader who goes by the name Antonio Garcia said on X, formerly Twitter, the organization "will not accept conditions or blackmail."

Luis Manuel Diaz is the founder and amateur coach of the only football academy in Barrancas, where his son showed promise from a very young age.&nbsp;

Diaz Sr. is credited with aiding the meteoric rise of his son who has played for his country 43 times and is the first Indigenous Colombian to make it to world football's top echelons.

Acquaintances have told AFP he sometimes sold food he cooked himself to pay for his son's trips to Barranquilla, the city where he had his debut.

He later played for Porto and now for Liverpool.

The ELN, one of Colombia's last recognized guerrilla groups, has some 5,800 combatants.

Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounted Friday how he was made to walk "too much" with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group.

Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounted Friday how he was made to walk "too much" with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group. Diaz, finally liberated Thursday after calls from around the world for his freedom, told reporters at his home in the country's north he went through a "very difficult" time, surviving "almost 12 days without sleep." Diaz's wife Cilenis Marulanda, who was taken by the same ELN kidnappers on October 28 but rescued hours later, rubbed her husband's back lovingly as he broke down in tears mid-statement. Also Read: ICC suspends Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect over excessive government interference Behind the pair hung a string of golden balloons spelling out "Welcome Mane," his nickname, in Spanish. Diaz walked with obvious difficulty as he arrived for the press conference, and had to be helped up from his chair afterwards and led away. He told reporters he was not maltreated by his captors. "I had to walk too much, up and down many mountains, trying to stay safe so that... I could return home," said the 56-year-old, who is no stranger to the mountainous region he has explored since a child. But "this was a different story," he said Friday. "I would not want anyone to be in that mountain in the situation I was in." Footballer Diaz's parents were abducted by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in Barrancas, a town near the Venezuelan border. Marulanda was rescued hours later and a massive search operation by ground and air was launched for her husband, with more than 250 soldiers involved. The ELN, which is in peace negotiations with the government and is party to a six-month ceasefire that entered into force in August, described the kidnapping by one of its units as a "mistake." 'Peace in Colombia' On Thursday, after days of intense negotiations, the rebels handed Diaz over to humanitarian workers at an undisclosed location in the Serrania del Perija mountain range, from where he was flown by helicopter to the city of Valledupar, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) from his hometown. Hours later, he arrived by car to neighbors celebrating with drums and trumpet music outside his home, which was under police guard. On Friday, Diaz told reporters he hoped his release was a step towards "peace in Colombia and so that everyone, and all the hostages, will have a chance to be free." The abduction threatened to derail high-stakes peace negotiations between the ELN and the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro. Petro took office last August with the stated goal of achieving "total peace" in a country ravaged by decades of fighting between the security forces, leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs. More than 38,000 people have been kidnapped in Colombia over the years, mainly by armed groups raising funds with ransom money. According to official data, the ELN still holds about 30 hostages. Colombia's rights ombudsman Carlos Camargo said Friday the practice must be stopped as part of "fixed conditions" for successful peace talks. But an ELN leader who goes by the name Antonio Garcia said on X, formerly Twitter, the organization "will not accept conditions or blackmail." Luis Manuel Diaz is the founder and amateur coach of the only football academy in Barrancas, where his son showed promise from a very young age. Diaz Sr. is credited with aiding the meteoric rise of his son who has played for his country 43 times and is the first Indigenous Colombian to make it to world football's top echelons. Acquaintances have told AFP he sometimes sold food he cooked himself to pay for his son's trips to Barranquilla, the city where he had his debut. He later played for Porto and now for Liverpool. The ELN, one of Colombia's last recognized guerrilla groups, has some 5,800 combatants.

Liverpool footballer Luis Diaz's father recounts 'difficult time' of kidnapping

The Colombian government said on Wednesday that the interior ministry has decided to suspend the ceasefire agreement with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. The announcement came a day after the guerrilla outfit denied signing a six-month ceasefire pact with the authorities.

"In view of the position publicly assumed yesterday (Tuesday)... we have decided to suspend the legal effects of the decree" which had established a bilateral truce with the ELN from January 1 to June 30, minister Alfonso Prada said in the press conference according to Reuters.

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The two parties are expected to sit for negotiations once again in Mexico.

Earlier, Colombian President Gustavo Petro had announced on New Year’s Eve that the government was successful in making the five largest armed groups agree to a six-month truce. However, the statement was rejected by National Liberation Army (ELN) – the biggest group in the mix.

“The ELN Dialogue Delegation has not discussed any bilateral ceasefire with the Gustavo Petro government, therefore no such agreement exists,” the guerrilla group said in a statement.

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According to official data, around 450,000 Colombians were killed while eight million were displaced due to the internal conflict plaguing the country. A peace agreement was signed between the parties in 2016 but the smaller groups have entered the fray to make the situation worse in Colombia.

“This whole fiasco demonstrates how improvised many of the government’s announcements are, declaring things without thinking them through with all the relevant stakeholders,” Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis said in an interview with The Guardian. 
&nbsp;

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The Colombian government said on Wednesday that the interior ministry has decided to suspend the ceasefire agreement with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels.

The Colombian government said on Wednesday that the interior ministry has decided to suspend the ceasefire agreement with the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. The announcement came a day after the guerrilla outfit denied signing a six-month ceasefire pact with the authorities. "In view of the position publicly assumed yesterday (Tuesday)... we have decided to suspend the legal effects of the decree" which had established a bilateral truce with the ELN from January 1 to June 30, minister Alfonso Prada said in the press conference according to Reuters. Also read | Omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 may cause new Covid spike in the US, confirms CDC The two parties are expected to sit for negotiations once again in Mexico. Earlier, Colombian President Gustavo Petro had announced on New Year’s Eve that the government was successful in making the five largest armed groups agree to a six-month truce. However, the statement was rejected by National Liberation Army (ELN) – the biggest group in the mix. “The ELN Dialogue Delegation has not discussed any bilateral ceasefire with the Gustavo Petro government, therefore no such agreement exists,” the guerrilla group said in a statement. Also read | Rishi Sunak plans to make maths mandatory for all students till the age of 18 According to official data, around 450,000 Colombians were killed while eight million were displaced due to the internal conflict plaguing the country. A peace agreement was signed between the parties in 2016 but the smaller groups have entered the fray to make the situation worse in Colombia. “This whole fiasco demonstrates how improvised many of the government’s announcements are, declaring things without thinking them through with all the relevant stakeholders,” Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis said in an interview with The Guardian.

Colombian govt suspends 'ceasefire' with National Liberation Army rebels after denial by group

Colombia&#39;s FARC rebels begin disarming Wednesday under a historic peace deal, beginning the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war.

After weeks of mustering its troops at designated disarmament zones, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was set to begin an inventory of its weapons and destroying munitions under United Nations supervision.

&quot;I&#39;m abandoning my rifle for a broom,&quot; said guerrilla Maritza Gonzalez at the FARC&#39;s hot, dusty camp in San Jose de Oriente, in northern Colombia.

Three armed guerrillas in combat fatigues guarded the entrance to the rudimentary camp, where a steady stream of trucks delivered bags of cement and workers scrambled to finish building a kitchen, mess hall, bathrooms and a laundry area.

Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters.

&quot;Let&#39;s hope this leads to peace,&quot; she told AFP.

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<h5>Maritza Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters. &#39;Let&#39;s hope this leads to peace&#39;</h5>
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President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his efforts to end the country&#39;s 53-year conflict, called the disarmament &quot;historic news for Colombians&quot; in a tweet.

FARC leader Rodrigo &quot;Timochenko&quot; Londono tweeted that the leftist rebels were laying down their guns &quot;with enthusiasm.&quot;

The disarmament of the country&#39;s largest guerrilla army will leave rival movement ELN -- currently engaged in rocky peace talks with the government -- as the only rebel group still waging a multi-sided war that has killed 260,000 people.

The Cold War-era conflict, which has also left 60,000 people missing and uprooted 6.9 million, is the last major armed conflict in the Americas.

Colombia, South America&#39;s third economy and the world&#39;s biggest cocaine producer, has been torn since the 1960s by fighting that has drawn in multiple leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitary units, drug cartels and the army.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-colombia-peace-is-elusive-7095">Also</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-colombia-peace-is-elusive-7095"> read: In Colombia, peace is elusive</a>

Santos is hoping to seal a &quot;complete peace&quot; with both the FARC and the ELN.

Both leftist rebel groups took up arms against the government in 1964, in the aftermath of a crushed peasant uprising.

Next challenge: the ELN 
The FARC has some 6,900 guerrillas.

It signed a peace deal with the government in November after four years of negotiations in Cuba, but implementation is running slightly behind schedule.

Under the deal, the FARC was originally due to surrender 30 percent of its weapons to the UN by Wednesday. But that can only happen once the inventory is complete.

The government&#39;s high commissioner for peace, Sergio Jaramillo, said Tuesday that the 180-day deadline for the rebels to fully disarm would be maintained, however.

The UN said in a statement that the FARC has until May 29 to disarm.

The first to surrender their weapons will be the 322 FARC members taking part in a joint monitoring commission with the government and the UN.

Separate talks with the ELN, or National Liberation Army, took a hit this week when the rebels claimed responsibility for a series of recent attacks -- a bloody reminder of the violence Colombia still faces.

Experts warn the ELN could be a tougher negotiating partner than the FARC because it has more hardline demands for sweeping social change.

It also has a decentralized command structure that could make it harder to convince the rank and file to accept an eventual deal.&nbsp;

(AFP)

They now begin the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war

Colombia's FARC rebels begin disarming Wednesday under a historic peace deal, beginning the delicate transition from guerrilla army to political party after more than half a century at war. After weeks of mustering its troops at designated disarmament zones, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was set to begin an inventory of its weapons and destroying munitions under United Nations supervision. "I'm abandoning my rifle for a broom," said guerrilla Maritza Gonzalez at the FARC's hot, dusty camp in San Jose de Oriente, in northern Colombia. Three armed guerrillas in combat fatigues guarded the entrance to the rudimentary camp, where a steady stream of trucks delivered bags of cement and workers scrambled to finish building a kitchen, mess hall, bathrooms and a laundry area. Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters. "Let's hope this leads to peace," she told AFP. Maritza Gonzalez, 54, has been a guerrilla since the age of 14. She said she was hopeful for the future and planned to reunite with her five brothers and four sisters. 'Let's hope this leads to peace' × President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for his efforts to end the country's 53-year conflict, called the disarmament "historic news for Colombians" in a tweet. FARC leader Rodrigo "Timochenko" Londono tweeted that the leftist rebels were laying down their guns "with enthusiasm." The disarmament of the country's largest guerrilla army will leave rival movement ELN -- currently engaged in rocky peace talks with the government -- as the only rebel group still waging a multi-sided war that has killed 260,000 people. The Cold War-era conflict, which has also left 60,000 people missing and uprooted 6.9 million, is the last major armed conflict in the Americas. Colombia, South America's third economy and the world's biggest cocaine producer, has been torn since the 1960s by fighting that has drawn in multiple leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitary units, drug cartels and the army. Also read: In Colombia, peace is elusive Santos is hoping to seal a "complete peace" with both the FARC and the ELN. Both leftist rebel groups took up arms against the government in 1964, in the aftermath of a crushed peasant uprising. Next challenge: the ELN The FARC has some 6,900 guerrillas. It signed a peace deal with the government in November after four years of negotiations in Cuba, but implementation is running slightly behind schedule. Under the deal, the FARC was originally due to surrender 30 percent of its weapons to the UN by Wednesday. But that can only happen once the inventory is complete. The government's high commissioner for peace, Sergio Jaramillo, said Tuesday that the 180-day deadline for the rebels to fully disarm would be maintained, however. The UN said in a statement that the FARC has until May 29 to disarm. The first to surrender their weapons will be the 322 FARC members taking part in a joint monitoring commission with the government and the UN. Separate talks with the ELN, or National Liberation Army, took a hit this week when the rebels claimed responsibility for a series of recent attacks -- a bloody reminder of the violence Colombia still faces. Experts warn the ELN could be a tougher negotiating partner than the FARC because it has more hardline demands for sweeping social change. It also has a decentralized command structure that could make it harder to convince the rank and file to accept an eventual deal. (AFP)

Colombia's FARC rebels begin to disarm

Two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels had been killed and third surrendered in Colombia&#39;s northern Bolivar province for venturing out of their designated zones with weapons, the Colombian army said.&nbsp;

The confrontation has led to the first violation of the bilateral ceasefire between the government and the Marxist insurgent group implemented in August.

According to the army, the rebels were extorting people some 69 kilometres (42 miles) from their appointed zone and were carrying weapons.&nbsp;

Until&nbsp;the rebels are disarmed, they are not allowed to leave their zones without informing the military of their coordinates.&nbsp;

Colombians had rejected the peace deal to end the 52-year-old conflict in September saying it was soft and allowed the rebels to go scot free despite the number of atrocities they had committed.&nbsp;

ELN strikes

At least 17 police officers were wounded when a bomb exploded in the bus they were travelling on Wednesday in Norte de Santander city.

The anti-riot officers from the ESMAD (Mobile Anti-Riot Squad) recieved minor injuries and are recovering in a local hospital.

&quot;An explosive device exploded as a bus carrying the ESMAD troops passed by, who were en-route to a mission to continue fighting against smuggling in that city. When the artefact exploded it affected 17 of our men, fortunately mildly, with slight shrapnel injuries and leaving some in a daze, all are all out of danger,&quot; said defence minister Luis Carlos Villegas.

Officials suspect the &nbsp;National Liberation Army (ELN) was behind the attack. The second largest insurgent group after FARC.&nbsp;

&quot;We&#39;re acting in the north of Santander with all force against organised crime and against smuggling carried out by the national liberation army (ELN), so it is quite probable that the perpetration of this act against our police is on behalf of the ELN but we will continue to report in detail,&quot; Villegas added.

If the ELN are responsible for the bombing the peace talks will break down, which are set to take place in Ecuador.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

In another attack, 17 policemen were wounded in a suspected attack by the National Liberation Army (ELN)

Two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels had been killed and third surrendered in Colombia's northern Bolivar province for venturing out of their designated zones with weapons, the Colombian army said. The confrontation has led to the first violation of the bilateral ceasefire between the government and the Marxist insurgent group implemented in August. According to the army, the rebels were extorting people some 69 kilometres (42 miles) from their appointed zone and were carrying weapons. Until the rebels are disarmed, they are not allowed to leave their zones without informing the military of their coordinates. Colombians had rejected the peace deal to end the 52-year-old conflict in September saying it was soft and allowed the rebels to go scot free despite the number of atrocities they had committed. ELN strikes At least 17 police officers were wounded when a bomb exploded in the bus they were travelling on Wednesday in Norte de Santander city. The anti-riot officers from the ESMAD (Mobile Anti-Riot Squad) recieved minor injuries and are recovering in a local hospital. "An explosive device exploded as a bus carrying the ESMAD troops passed by, who were en-route to a mission to continue fighting against smuggling in that city. When the artefact exploded it affected 17 of our men, fortunately mildly, with slight shrapnel injuries and leaving some in a daze, all are all out of danger," said defence minister Luis Carlos Villegas. Officials suspect the National Liberation Army (ELN) was behind the attack. The second largest insurgent group after FARC. "We're acting in the north of Santander with all force against organised crime and against smuggling carried out by the national liberation army (ELN), so it is quite probable that the perpetration of this act against our police is on behalf of the ELN but we will continue to report in detail," Villegas added. If the ELN are responsible for the bombing the peace talks will break down, which are set to take place in Ecuador. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Colombian Army: Two FARC rebels killed in combat, violate ceasefire

The Colombian government is set to launch peace talks with the country&#39;s second-largest rebel group, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN), on October 27, the government announced on Monday.&nbsp;

The negotiations will take place in Ecuador&#39;s capital city of Quito with both sides striving to &quot;create an environment favorable to peace&quot;, a joint statement said.&nbsp;

President Juan Manuel Santos said, &quot;We&#39;ve been seeking negotiations with the ELN for almost three years to end the armed conflict with them as well... Now that we&#39;re moving forward with the ELN, we will have total peace.&quot;&nbsp;

However, the Colombian government said talks will not proceed till all hostages are freed by the ELN.&nbsp;

Announcement of negotiations&nbsp;with ELN comes days after the government&#39;s peace deal with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was rejected by the public in a referendum. They felt the deal allowed the rebels to go scot-free for the atrocities they committed.&nbsp;

Santos was awarded a Nobel peace prize for his efforts to end the 52-year conflict between the FARC rebels and the government.&nbsp;

Red Cross&nbsp;said the ELN released a civilian hostage, identified as Nelson Alarcon, before the announcement. Alarcon, who was abducted three months back, is the third hostage to be released by the rebel group in last 14 days.&nbsp;

Talks with the rebel group began parallel to discussions with FARC.&nbsp;

&quot;Soon there will be no more civilians in the guerrillas&#39; hands. That&#39;s the deal,&quot; a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP.&nbsp;

In the statement released in Venezuela, ELN pledged to &quot;initiate the process to free hostages before October 27&quot;.

The Colombian authorities claim the insurgent group has one more hostage.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The FARC and ELN&nbsp;have been at war with the state since 1964. The ELN is about one-fourth the size of FARC, with some 1,500 fighters.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The National Liberation Army (ELN) has pledged to release all hostages before October 27, the day when the negotiations begin

The Colombian government is set to launch peace talks with the country's second-largest rebel group, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN), on October 27, the government announced on Monday. The negotiations will take place in Ecuador's capital city of Quito with both sides striving to "create an environment favorable to peace", a joint statement said. President Juan Manuel Santos said, "We've been seeking negotiations with the ELN for almost three years to end the armed conflict with them as well... Now that we're moving forward with the ELN, we will have total peace." However, the Colombian government said talks will not proceed till all hostages are freed by the ELN. Announcement of negotiations with ELN comes days after the government's peace deal with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was rejected by the public in a referendum. They felt the deal allowed the rebels to go scot-free for the atrocities they committed. Santos was awarded a Nobel peace prize for his efforts to end the 52-year conflict between the FARC rebels and the government. Red Cross said the ELN released a civilian hostage, identified as Nelson Alarcon, before the announcement. Alarcon, who was abducted three months back, is the third hostage to be released by the rebel group in last 14 days. Talks with the rebel group began parallel to discussions with FARC. "Soon there will be no more civilians in the guerrillas' hands. That's the deal," a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP. In the statement released in Venezuela, ELN pledged to "initiate the process to free hostages before October 27". The Colombian authorities claim the insurgent group has one more hostage. The FARC and ELN have been at war with the state since 1964. The ELN is about one-fourth the size of FARC, with some 1,500 fighters. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Colombia to launch peace talks with second-largest rebel group

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