The National Liberation Army of Colombia has freed a hostage in a goodwill gesture on the eve of peace talks which would bring more than 50 years of conflict to an end.<br /><br /> Fredy Moreno was handed over by the country’s last active rebel group, the ELN, two weeks after he was captured.<br /><br /> Peace talks were due to begin in October, but had been delayed while the rebels held Odin Sanchez, a former Congressman hostage, he was released last Thursday. In return, the government released two rebel soldiers from prison.<br /><br /> The pair are expected to join the negotiations which are due to begin today in Ecuador.<br /><br /> Talks come two months after the government signed a peace deal with the FARC, but the ELN could prove to be a tougher negotiating partner.<br /><br /> The five decade long conflict with Marxist rebels, which has killed more than 260,000 people and left tens of thousands missing is the last armed conflict in the Americas.<br />
