At least five Colombian soldiers were killed on 27 February, and a further 10 injured, when Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) guerrillas ambushed a military convoy. Just a day earlier the ELN had announced that it would declare a unilateral ceasefire for five days surrounding the 11 March congressional elections (9-13 March), leading President Juan Manuel Santos to say that this was “the type of gesture we have been asking for to renew [suspended peace] talks”. The roadside bomb detonated by ELN guerrillas in a rural area of Cúcuta near the Venezuelan border has put paid to that. The principal candidates ahead of May’s presidential elections said Santos should call time on the peace process with the ELN.End of preview - This article contains approximately 1755 words.
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