Mexico willing to host meeting between Colombian gov't, guerrillas
Mexico is willing to host a peace meeting between the Colombian government and the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN), said a government spokesman Wednesday.

"If the parties decide to meet in Mexico, we would welcome them with open arms, whenever they decide," the spokesman said.

He added that the Mexican government of President Vicente Fox, which had offered itself as the organizer of a possible peace meeting between Bogota and the ELN, "awaits the decision of the parties on where and when they would meet."

Fox had appointed Andres Valencia as the mediator for a peace dialogue between the Colombian government and the ELN, the second largest rebel group in the Andean country with 4,000 combatants.

The president said the meeting can be held in Mexico or any other country, but there will be a cease-fire at first.

"I don't believe a good peace process could come into existence if they continue kidnapping," Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said Tuesday at the Venezuelan city of Guyana, where he participated in a summit with leaders of Spain, Brazil and Venezuela.

Uribe had accused the ELN of "sabotaging" the peace efforts.

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