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Colombian rebel group ELN says hostage release depends on promised pardon

Xinhua, November 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) said Monday it would free hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez if the government first carries out a promised pardon of two jailed guerrilla leaders.

The rebel group ELN and the government are set to begin peace talks to end decades of conflicts, and the ELN said it wants the two leaders to be at the negotiating table.

Nicolas Rodriguez Bautista, the ELN's top commander, said the government of President Juan Manuel Santos has already agreed to the pardon in an agreement signed "in the presence of guarantors Cuba, Venezuela, Norway, Chile and Brazil."

"Everything is ready to be carried out, as long as the government complies with what was agreed, pardoning the two detained ELN guerrillas, exactly as contained in the documents," he added.

On Friday, Pablo Beltran, the ELN's chief peace negotiator, said Sanchez would be freed this week, but his release depends on the promised pardon.

The peace talks between the government and the ELN were to start on Oct. 27 in Quito, Ecuador, but Santos called them off, saying that the rebels failed to meet the pre-condition of releasing Sanchez. Enditem