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BOGOTA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerrilla group in Colombia, freed eight hostages on Tuesday in a rural area of the northwestern province of Choco.
"Under pressure by public forces, the eight hostages were freed in Novita, Choco. They are already in the care of our troops," wrote President Juan Manuel Santos on his official Twitter Tuesday morning.
The commander of police of Choco, John Arevalo, also wrote on Twitter that "intimidation by the Colombian police and army allowed for the freeing of the eight people kidnapped by ELN in Novita, safe and sound."
Relations between the government and the ELN are fragile as the two sides began peace talks in Quito, Ecuador in February.
