Colombian rebel leader says peace talks are ‘on pause’

By MANUEL RUEDA
Associated Press

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian rebel leader Pablo Beltran says peace talks between his National Liberation Army and the government have been put “on pause” due to remarks made last week by President Gustavo Petro. Petro questioned whether members of the rebel group’s delegation in Cuba could effectively control the actions of their own commanders on the battlefield. He also said the younger leaders of the group, known as the ELN,  were motivated not by political goals, but by drug trafficking profits. In an interview published on Youtube by the ELN’s communication team, Beltran said that delegations from both sides would have to meet to “examine”  the comments by Colombia’s president.