Colombia’s military chief says the country’s second-largest rebel band has kidnapped five gold mining workers in a northern province. They include a Canadian, two Peruvians and two Colombians.
Gen. Alejandro Navas tells The Associated Press that the five were seized Friday morning by two dozen rebels of the leftist National Liberation Army in the Bolivar state municipality of Norosi.
The rebel band known as the ELN has an estimated 1,500 figthers is far smaller than the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which is currently engaged in peace talks with the government in Cuba.
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The ELN has been seeking to join those talks but without success.
Unlike the larger group, the ELN has not renounced ransom kidnappings.
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