BOGOTA, Dec 17 (AFP) - Colombia's leftist National Liberation Army announced Monday it would respect a unilateral ceasefire through January 6 for the holidays.

"To respect Christmas celebrations, the ELN has unilaterally decided to declare a truce in the military confrontation," said Nicholas Rodriguez Bautista, commander of the group known as ELN, in a statement on radio Caracol.

The ELN "expects nothing in return from the government," Rodriguez said, nevertheless urging it to "cease its antisocial economic policies" and halt military operations in the ELN's zone of influence in northern Colombia.

The rebels had announced during talks with government negotiators in Havana over the weekend they would take a step "to contribute to celebrating Christmas and the New Year in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility."

The talks focused on an agenda for formal ceasefire negotiations.

Contact between the government and the 4,500-strong ELN resumed November 24, after President Andres Pastrana broke it off in August, charging that the insurgents were not serious about making peace.

CRV/ksb/ceh AFP

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