THE Colombian government said yesterday the ELN guerrilla group would release the father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, whom it abducted five days ago in the midst of peace talks with Bogota.

Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco told reporters that ELN representatives at the negotiations had indicated to government counterparts “that he will be released”.

He added that “a safe area will have to be agreed” upon for the handover to happen.

The footballer’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued hours after the pair were abducted in their hometown of Barrancas near the Venezuelan border on Saturday, but his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, has been missing ever since, sparking a massive search.

On Thursday, the government said a unit of the ELN, or National Liberation Army, had taken the older Diaz, and demanded his immediate release.

The ELN and the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro are in the midst of peace negotiations and a six-month ceasefire, which entered into force in August.

The president yesterday expressed his “deepest rejection not only of the kidnapping of Luis’ father, but also… that it (the ELN) has not yet been able to release him”.

Petro was in Washington attending an Americas economy summit.

“As time passes, the conditions in which Mr Diaz finds himself are becoming very dangerous” the president added, urging “an immediate effort” to free the hostage.

The army said more than 250 soldiers were involved in a search by air and land for Diaz, aged 56, according to local media.

“The operations… have not stopped for a single second,” said Commander Llair Gonzalez of the specialised anti-kidnapping unit.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said yesterday that Luis Diaz – who has not spoken out about the kidnapping – will decide for himself whether he wants to play in a Premier League match against Luton tomorrow. – AFP, November 4, 2023.