BOGOTA, Sept. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Colombia's rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) released eight people out of 16 abducted on Tuesday in San Jacinto del Cauca city, in the northern department of Bolivar, Colombian authorities said Wednesday.

    The ELN guerrillas kidnapped the 16 aboard a boat along a river in the area.

    San Vicente del Cauca Mayor Jairo Hernandez said most of those captured are peasants.

    Hernandez demanded the Red Cross and the Ombudsman's office mediate for the release of the hostages.

    The ELN is Colombia's second largest guerrilla group with 4,500 combatants, after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

    Colombia has been plagued with a four-decade civil war, in which leftist rebels, far-right paramilitary and government troopsfight each other, killing 3,500 people every year.

    About 2,000 people, including 22 foreigners, were kidnapped in Colombia last year. Enditem