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Colombia's President Gustavo Petro
Photo: LUISA GONZALEZ / REUTERS
The Colombian guerrilla organization ELN has denied the government's account of a ceasefire.
"The ELN negotiating delegation has not discussed a proposal for a bilateral ceasefire with Gustavo Petro's government, so there is still no agreement on this issue," the rebel group's high command said on Tuesday.
Colombia's President Petro announced at the weekend that his government had agreed a ceasefire with several of the South American country's armed groups, including the ELN, until the end of June.
At the end of November, the government resumed peace talks with the rebels after a break of almost four years.
"A unilateral government decree cannot be accepted as an agreement"
"We have made it clear several times that the ELN only keeps to agreements that are discussed and made at the negotiating table," the left-wing guerrilla said in a statement.
"A unilateral government decree cannot be accepted as an agreement."
The Marxist-Leninist National Liberation Army (ELN) has around 5,000 fighters.
The organization was initially based heavily on the Cuban model of socialism, later many clergymen influenced by liberation theology joined the group.
It carries out attacks and takes hostages, especially in eastern Colombia.
For 52 years, Colombia suffered from a civil war between left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and the military.
220,000 people lost their lives and millions were displaced.
Although the security situation has improved after the 2016 peace agreement between the government and the largest rebel group FARC, parts of the South American country are still controlled by illegal groups.
dop/dpa