The Colombian government and the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) resumed peace talks in the Cuban capital of Havana on Sunday.

The discussions, being held in an undisclosed location in Havana, are the fifth round of talks between the Colombian government and the ELN rebels.

The ELN, the second largest rebel group in Colombia, is represented by rebel leaders Pablo Beltran, Francisco Galan and Juan Carlos Cuellar, local media reports quoted sources close to the meeting as saying.

The government delegation is headed by Colombian Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo and the country's ambassador to Cuba, Julio Londono.

The two sides are reportedly aiming to arrive at a basic agreement to pave the way for a lasting peace deal.

The Colombian government and the ELN, which has been fighting the government since the 1960s, started formal talks in December 2005.

The ELN has also been a rival of the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the largest rebel group in Colombia. Last week, the ELN proposed a truce with the FARC.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2007)