Four countries offer to host Colombian peace talks after Ecuador withdrew

BOGOTA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Four countries have offered to host ongoing peace talks between the Colombian government and National Liberation Army (ELN) after Ecuador withdrew, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Friday.

Chile, Brazil, Norway and Cuba, which had been accompanying the talks taking place in Ecuador's capital Quito, all offered to serve as hosts.

"This morning, Chile's President Sebastian Pinera called me and told me Chile eagerly offers to host the talks with the ELN ... and Brazil, Cuba and Norway did the same," Santos said.

Colombia is now working out the details, which included issues like whether the current fifth round of talks could be completed in Quito, or should be immediately moved to a new location after Ecuador withdrew, Santos said.

On Wednesday, Ecuador said it would stop hosting the negotiations with the ELN guerrilla group as long as the rebels continue to carry out "terrorist acts."

"I have asked Ecuador's foreign minister to stop these talks ... for as long as the ELN does not pledge to stop carrying out these terrorist acts," Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno said in an interview with Colombian news networks RCN News and NTN24.

Ecuador's decision followed a spike in crime along Ecuador's border with Colombia, including the recent abduction and killing of a three-man press team that was reporting there, as well as the kidnapping of a young couple. Enditem