THE UN security council has backed a ceasefire between Colombia’s government and National Liberation Army (ELN) guerillas.

The body voted unanimously on Thursday to authorise the UN mission in Colombia to monitor and verify the temporary truce brokered by neighbouring Ecuador at talks in Quito last month.

The resolution approved recommendations by secretary-general Antonio Guterres to add up to 70 additional international observers to monitor the temporary ceasefire period, which will end on January 9 2018.