![Colombia blames ELN rebels for 'unnecessary crisis' as talks stall](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/4d/b4/15/Colombia-blames-ELN-rebels-for--unn-057505.jpg)
-
Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
-
'Super proud' Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
-
Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
-
Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
-
Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
USA men land Paralympic basketball three-peat, Jiang takes 7th swim gold
-
USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
-
Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
-
England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
-
AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
-
No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
-
Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
-
Almodovar wins top Venice prize for end-of-life film
-
Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
-
Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
-
Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
-
England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
-
Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
-
Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
-
21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
-
Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
-
Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
-
Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
-
Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
-
Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
-
'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
-
Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
-
Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
-
Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
-
Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
-
Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
-
Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer visits Dublin
-
Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
-
Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
-
Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
-
Death toll from Kenya school blaze rises to 21
-
Brazil's right rallies for 'freedom' after X suspended
-
Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
-
Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
-
French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
-
Italy backs Kyiv's 'legitimate defence' as Zelensky presses allies
-
The Body Shop rescued from administration after deal
-
Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint, extends MotoGP lead
-
Smoke and screams: The horror of Kenya's school dorm inferno
-
MotoGP leader Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer begins Dublin visit
-
Ma Lin turns brutal encounter with bear into glorious Paralympic career
-
Flintoff appointed England Lions head coach
![Colombia blames ELN rebels for 'unnecessary crisis' as talks stall](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/4d/b4/15/Colombia-blames-ELN-rebels-for--unn-057505.jpg)
Colombia blames ELN rebels for 'unnecessary crisis' as talks stall
Colombia's government on Wednesday blamed the ELN guerrilla group for unnecessarily prolonging the country's decades-old armed conflict by putting on hold ongoing peace negotiations.
The ELN, or National Liberation Army, had on Tuesday accused Bogota of violating ground rules set out when talks started in 2022, and declared the process "frozen" until further notice.
"The decisions taken unilaterally by the ELN... lead to an unnecessary crisis that prolongs the armed confrontation and violence suffered by communities," the presidency of Gustavo Petro said in a statement.
It added the ELN's move was undermining broader confidence in the rebels' "will for peace."
Since his election in 2022 as Colombia's first-ever leftist president, Petro has sought to put an end to six decades of fighting that has drawn in the country's security forces, guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs.
Talks with the ELN resumed in November that year. They had been suspended by Petro's predecessor Ivan Duque in 2019 after a car bomb attack on a police academy in Bogota that left 22 people dead.
The Marxist group has taken part in failed negotiations with Colombia's last five governments.
The much larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, laid down arms under a historic peace accord reached in 2016, though some renegade fighters rejected the deal and remain active under a new name.
Talks with the ELN as part of Petro's quest for "total peace" have faced multiple setbacks. The group, which is linked to drug trafficking, has been accused by rights observers of taking advantage of various ceasefires to expand its influence, seize more territory and recruit new members.
- Multiple negotiating fronts -
Founded in 1964, the ELN boasts an estimated 5,800 fighters, active mainly on Colombia's Pacific coast and along the border with Venezuela in the northeast.
The ELN has a centralized command but individual units have a degree of autonomy, further complicating negotiations.
The peace process was recently thrown into doubt when an ELN faction kidnapped the father of Colombian footballer Luis Diaz last October, releasing him 12 days later.
On Tuesday, it complained that the government of southeast Narino department had announced separate talks with ELN fighters there, while negotiations are meant to be held at a centralized level.
Because of this, "the process has gone into crisis," the group declared.
Successive rounds of talks have been held in Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba, countries acting as guarantors of the peace process along with Brazil, Chile and Norway.
The government insisted Wednesday it had "fulfilled all its commitments" under the peace process.
For its part, the office of the ombudsman in a statement described the ELN's position as "unacceptable," and criticized the actions of its Western War Front that "has confined 40,000 inhabitants of the San Juan subregion of Choco for two weeks."
Petro is also attempting to negotiate with other armed groups.
G.Schulte--BTB