Colombian gov't, rebel group to strike deal over peace talks

The Colombian government and the rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN) are about to negotiate an accord over formal peace talks to end scores of years of confrontation, representatives from both sides announced on Tuesday.

The final details are to be worked out when the Colombian government and the country's second-largest rebel group continue their talks, which started here last week.

Both sides expressed optimism about the prospect of reaching an agreement to start peace talks.

Government peace negotiator Luis Carlos Restrepo said he was pleased with the positive advancement in recent months of exploratory talks, while Antonio Garcia, chief of the ELN, said that a draft pact was expected to come out in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The ELN, which began to fight the Colombian government in 1964, is reported to have shrunk to a group of some 3,500 fighters following the government's repeated military offensives.

Earlier, the rebel group indicated its willingness to reach a deal with the government, pledging to negotiate sincerely.

Source: Xinhua