The commander of Colombia’s Marxist ELN rebels has ordered his fighters to lay down their arms this weekend.<br /><br />The group is engaged in complicated peace talks with the government aimed at ending five decades of war.<br /><br />In a video message, Nicolas Rodriguez, known by his war alias Gabino, told fighters from the ELN or National Liberation Army to begin their part in a ceasefire starting on Sunday and running through mid-January.<br /><br />“This bilateral ceasefire will not only halt offensive actions between the parties, but will also bring important humanitarian relief to the Colombian people,” he said.<br /><br />President Juan Manuel Santos’ signed a peace deal with the larger FARC group of rebels in late 2016 after years of negotiations.<br /><br />In a national address, he insisted that as these latest peace efforts take shape, “Military forces and police…will continue to fulfil their constitutional duties throughout the country.”<br /><br />Since negotiations started in February, the ELN has continued to take hostages for ransom and stepped up bomb attacks on oil companies.<br /><br />Its pledged to suspend such activities during the ceasefire. In turn, the government will improve protection for community leaders and conditions for jailed rebels.<br /><br />Founded by radical Roman Catholic priests in 1964, the ELN has sought peace with the government before but made little progress. <br /><br />This would be the first ceasefire with the ELN which is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.<br />
