Colombia’s ELN guerrilla group denies agreeing to national ceasefire

Statement contradicts president's announcement of six-month truce between country's five largest armed groups

Colombia's largest remaining guerrilla group has contradicted government claims that they had agreed a national ceasefire, in a setback to plans to bring peace to the Andean nation after decades of violence.

President Gustavo Petro had announced on New Year's Eve that the country's five largest armed groups had agreed to a six-month truce, but on Tuesday the National Liberation Army (ELN) rejected the claims, saying it had not been consulted on any such plan.