BOGOTA, July 21, (Xinhuanet) -- The Colombian Congress Wednesday proposed that peace talks between government and the left-wing National Liberation Army (ELN) be held in the congressional building.

    Senate spokesman Luis Humberto Gomez suggested that the building be used as a "de-tension zone" in accordance with the ELN's request for a venue for peace negotiations as well as for a so-called national convention.

    "It is here, in the congressional enclosures, that negotiations and dialogue would take place. This can be a zone of de-tension. We must not be afraid to negotiate, and negotiations cannot take place in fear," he said.

    Last month, the jailed ELN spokesman Francisco Galan was released for 24 hours to present peace proposals to the Congress.

    Peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN started from 1999 but broke down in May 2002 due to major differences over a cease-fire and the division of a demilitarized zone.

    However, their differences have been somewhat narrowed, thanks to mediation efforts of Mexico.

    Established in 1964, the 5,000-strong ELN is Colombia's second largest leftist rebel force. During a four-decade-old civil war, Colombian government forces, leftist guerrillas and far-right paramilitaries had been fighting one another, killing an average of 3,500 people, mostly civilians, each year. Enditem