Colombia's rebel ELN begins first truce in over half a century

Colombia's biggest energetic rebellion organization, the eln, has began a brief ceasefire with the authorities - for the first time in more than 50 years.
The truce started on sunday and is set to extend until mid-january.
President juan manuel santos says he hopes it will serve as a first step to attaining peace with the organization.
It follows a landmark peace deal among the authorities and the an awful lot larger farc revolt institution remaining yr, which ended five many years of battle.
The temporary ceasefire among the country wide liberation military (eln) and the colombian army is visible as the most essential step taken considering peace talks between the two sides began in neighbouring ecuador in february.
Eln peace talks: what are the demanding situations?
Eln leader nicolás rodriguez ordered his troops to "quit all kinds of offensive activities to fully comply with the bilateral ceasefire" overnight, simply as colombia's militia have been told to droop operations against the rebels.
Despite continuing negotiations for the beyond eight months, the run-up to the truce has been marred by using eln attacks on protection forces and hostage taking, as well as attacks on oil groups.
Eln finances its operations specially with ransom bills given to release hostages.
But, in step with phrases laid out in the truce, the rebellion organization has pledged to stop hostage taking, attacks on roads and oil installations, using landmines and recruiting minors.
In go back, the authorities has agreed to enhance jail conditions for approximately 450 rebels and step up safety for network leaders, many of whom had been increasingly more targeted with the aid of violence because the start of 2016.


Media captionthe remaining guerrillas combating in colombia's armed battle speak to the bbc
Un monitors have been despatched to have a look at situations on the floor, as well as authorities and rebel representatives, and officers from the catholic church.
The eln guerrilla organization is believed to have fewer than 1,500 lively opponents, who're sponsored by using a bigger wide variety of "militants" or sympathisers providing logistical aid.
Its strongholds are in rural regions within the north and at the border with venezuela, and also inside the provinces of casanare, norte de santander and cauca.
The subsequent round of talks is ready to take location within the ecuadorian capital of quito on 23 october.