International News

QUITO, (MILLAT+APP/AFP) – Colombia’s ELN rebels said
Friday that military operations in one of their strongholds were endangering the life of a hostage and the prospects for stalled peace talks.
The warning came as President Juan Manuel Santos seeks to implement a peace
deal signed Thursday with a larger rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC), and revive the aborted talks with the National Liberation
Army (ELN).
Planned talks with the ELN broke down last month before they could start
after the rebels failed to release hostage ex-congressman Odin Sanchez.
The guerrillas now accuse the army of putting Sanchez’s life at risk by
increasing operations in the jungle-covered department of Choco in northwestern
Colombia, where he is being held.
“The increase in violent confrontations is endangering the process of
freeing Odin Sanchez, preventing us from presenting proof he is still alive and
putting his life at risk,” the ELN said on Twitter.
They suggested that forces hostile to Santos within the army are seeking to
“weaken the government and cause the ELN talks to fail.”
The government earlier Friday demanded proof from the rebels that Sanchez
is still alive.