Pope-backed ceasefire hailed:

Lat/Am

Colombia’s government and the country’s last active guerrilla group, the ELN, announced a ceasefire Monday, a key step toward sealing a “complete peace” to end Latin America’s longest civil war.

President Juan Manuel Santos and National Liberation Army (ELN) negotiators announced the ceasefire two days before a visit by Pope Francis.

ELN chief negotiator Pablo Beltran said his force’s ceasefire was “the first miracle of the pope’s visit.”

The ceasefire follows a separate accord that saw the disarmament last month of Colombia’s biggest rebel group, the FARC.

Santos said it was “great news that we are sure will delight” the Argentine-born pontiff.

Under the ceasefire, “there will be an end to kidnappings, attacks on oil pipelines and other hostilities against the civilian population” by the ELN, Santos said in a televised address.

The government for its part promised to improve conditions for imprisoned ELN members and protect civil leaders from attacks in the conflict zone.

The 1,500-strong ELN has been in negotiations with the government since February.

Santos said the ceasefire will be renewed depending on progress on details still to be thrashed out with the leftist rebels.

“It will come into effect on October 1, initially for 102 days, that is to say until January 12 of next year.”

The ELN delegation earlier announced the deal on Twitter.

“When the days of celebration during Francis’s visit to Colombia are over, we will continue, determined to advance toward a de-escalation of the conflict until complete peace becomes a reality.”

Francis is scheduled to tour Colombia from Sept 6 to 10. (AFP)