Business Standard

Colombia's ELN rebels free 3rd hostage as peace talks loom

Venezuela's government has called a press conference Monday at which they're expected to announce an end to the impasse

Juan Manuel Santos

APPTI Bogota
Colombia's second-largest rebel group freed a rice farmer ahead of an expected announcement that it is initiating stalled peace talks with the government.

The individual was handed over yesterday to the International Red Cross. He is the third person freed by the National Liberation Army in two weeks.

President Juan Manuel Santos had been demanding the ELN release all captives in order to resume peace talks that have been frozen since March.

Venezuela's government, which is sponsoring the talks, has called a press conference Monday at which they're expected to announce an end to the impasse and the start of formal talks in the coming days.
 
A peace deal between the much-larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is at risk of falling apart after the accord was rejected in a referendum.

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First Published: Oct 11 2016 | 3:48 AM IST

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