Colombia's ELN rebel group says bilateral ceasefire must be flawless

Pablo Beltran, top negotiator for Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, gestures during a news conference in Havana, Cuba, May 1, 2023. Picture taken with a zoom burst. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

HAVANA (Reuters) - A ceasefire between Colombia's ELN rebel group and the government must be adhered to "100%" if it is to win the confidence of the Colombian people, the head of the ELN delegation said on Monday ahead of fresh talks in Havana.

Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro restarted peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) last year, but those negotiations were thrown into disarray in March, after the ELN killed nine Colombian soldiers near the border with Venezuela.