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      CALI, Colombia (CWNews.com) - Archbishop Isaias Duarte Cansino of Cali, Colombia, personally presented a formal accusation against the rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN) before the Inter-American Court on Tuesday, a month after the ELN kidnapped more than 160 churchgoers from La Maria Catholic Church in Cali.

      Archbishop Duarte said that he has accused the ELN before the court located in San Jose, Costa Rica, "for the systematic violation of international human rights." He said that he has also addressed a letter to the embassies of "some European countries" demanding the international isolation of the rebels, who still hold 45 hostages, allegedly demanding ransom for their release. "Only the international isolation of the ELN will force them to comply with human rights and to engage in concrete peace talks," the archbishop said.

      Meanwhile, the relatives of the 45 hostages still held by the ELN issued a public statement supporting the charges of Archbishop Duarte and announcing that no family will pay ransom for the release of their relatives held hostage by the ELN.

      "All of us, including the relatives of the three foreigners, a North American, a Frenchman, and a Spaniard, have agreed to force the ELN to release our loved ones without any ransom," said Felipe Iragorri, spokesman for the relatives.

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