BOGOTA: The ELN guerrilla group, which is in peace talks with the Colombian government, has killed nine soldiers in an attack in the country’s northeast, the government said on Wednesday.
“We have received initial information about the killings of nine of our soldiers” in El Carmen in the North Santander department, the military said in a statement, attributing the assault to the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Twitter expressed his “total repudiation” of the attack.
He convocado a consulta a la delegación del gobierno en la mesa del ELN, países garantes y acompañantes. Un proceso de Paz debe ser serio y responsable con la sociedad colombiana.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) March 29, 2023
ELN rebels in Colombia
He did not refer to the ELN but said the perpetrators were people who were “still absolutely far from peace.”
According to the regional government of North Santander, eight other soldiers were wounded.
The ELN has been in peace talks with the government since last November to end its near-six-decade armed uprising.
