REBEL GROUP HALTS TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA Colombia's second largest guerrilla group has suspended
discussions with the government in apparent protest of a U.S.-backed
military operation to wipe out drug crops. Peace advocates urged them to
resume talks Sunday.

The National Liberation Army, which has been fighting the government for
more than three decades, broke off discussions Friday that were aimed at
beginning formal peace negotiations, the official government news agency
ANCOL reported Saturday.

"This is an impasse that we hope to overcome," government peace envoy
Camilo Gomez said.

The UN human-rights director in Colombia urged the two sides to resume
talks Sunday.

"The most important thing now is to not lose what has been gained, and a
lot has been gained," Anders Kompass said.

Gomez said rebel commander Pablo Beltran sent him a message breaking off
talks by e-mail late Friday.