COLOMBIA’S government and the nation’s largest remaining guerilla group reached a last-minute deal on Monday to extend a ceasefire that began last year by a further six months.

The National Liberation Army (ELN) also promised to stop kidnapping civilians for ransom.

The latest truce was set to expire today. But in a brief statement issued just minutes before midnight, both sides said that they have extended the ceasefire for a further 180 days.