BOGOTA, June 7 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 29 members of the rebel National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN) turned in their arms Tuesday at Medellin, northwest Colombia, officials said.

    The rebels, from the "Heroes de Anori" front of the ELN, decided to give up "due to their lack of will to keep on fighting under pressure from government troops and the critical logistic state of the organization," according to a communique issued by the Colombian armed forces in the region.

    The demobilized rebels had been active in the Antioquia municipalities of Yarumal, Anori and Campamento, but had to lay down weapons after a recent military operation launched by Colombia's 4th Army Brigade.

    The communique termed the surrender as a "heavy blow" to the ELN, as it took place in "one of their most important fronts."

    The demobilized rebels will enter into a governmental program for reintegration into civil life, which in the last two years has benefited some 12,000 paramilitary gunmen and rebels.

    The ELN, with 4,500 combatants, is the second largest rebel organization in the country after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Enditem