BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) -- Colombia's second-largest guerrilla
                  force, the National Liberation Army (ELN), said on Friday it called on
                  President Andres Pastrana to create another demilitarized area where it can
                  hold talks aimed at ending its 34-year uprising.

                  Pastrana in November pulled all government troops out of an area in
                  southeast Colombia about the size of Switzerland to allow leaders from the
                  larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel army to
                  take part in separate peace talks.

                  That demilitarization is due to end on Feb. 7 but Pastrana was widely
                  expected to announce a three-month extension.

                  Founded in 1965, the Cuban-inspired ELN has proposed holding national
                  conventions with government, religious, business and community leaders as a
                  first step to finding a peaceful solution to a conflict that has claimed 35,000
                  lives in the past decade.

                  "To hold the national convention, full security guarantees will be required for
                  the people attending this event," ELN commander-in-chief Nicolas
                  Rodriguez, alias "Gabino," told the RadioNet radio station in an interview.

                  "The demilitarization is ... a necessity which we are waiting to discuss with
                  the president," he added.

                  The guerrilla leader, who assumed control of the ELN following the death of
                  Spanish-born rebel priest Manuel Perez last year, said contacts with the
                  government were progressing well and that a meeting with Pastrana would
                  take place soon.

                  Despite the massive troop withdrawal in the southeast, negotiations with the
                  FARC got off to a bad start when its legendary leader Manuel "Sureshot"
                  Marulanda failed to show at the Jan. 7 official ceremony to mark the start of
                  talks.

                  The fragile peace process was dealt a further body blow days later when the
                  FARC announced that it had suspended talks until the government took a
                  tough stance against ultra-right paramilitary groups.

                  Between them the FARC and ELN have a combat force of 20,000 troops
                  and control roughly half of the country.

                   Copyright 1999 Reuters.