LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Colombia, ELN rebels take first steps toward ceasefire

The ELN is Colombia's oldest remaining rebel group, and the talks are the cornerstone of efforts by leftist President Gustavo Petro - himself once a member of the now-demobilized M-19 insurgents - to bring "total peace" to Colombia. "We took the first steps to firm up a bilateral, national and temporary ceasefire which will create better conditions for Colombians' mobilization and participation in the peace process," said the ELN's Pablo Beltran.

The latest in Latin American politics today: Colombia, ELN rebels take first steps toward ceasefire

BOGOTA - Colombia's government and the left-wing ELN guerrilla group have taken the first steps toward a bilateral, temporary ceasefire, the heads of their delegations said as they closed the second round of peace talks in Mexico City. The ELN is Colombia's oldest remaining rebel group, and the talks are the cornerstone of efforts by leftist President Gustavo Petro - himself once a member of the now-demobilized M-19 insurgents - to bring "total peace" to Colombia.

"We took the first steps to firm up a bilateral, national and temporary ceasefire which will create better conditions for Colombians' mobilization and participation in the peace process," said the ELN's Pablo Beltran. Pope Francis compares Nicaragua to Nazi dictatorship

BUENOS AIRES - Pope Francis slammed Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, saying he thought the ruler was "not right in the head" and comparing his administration to Hitler's dictatorship and the Russian Revolution. Francis' comments in an interview with Argentine outlet Infobae are his strongest yet against Ortega. He has previously faced criticism for not intervening earlier as Ortega's attacks on the Church have ramped up.

In his current term, Ortega has imprisoned a number of religious leaders and forced others into exile as they face what human rights groups call politically motivated charges. In February, a Nicaraguan court sentenced Bishop Rolando Alvarez to nearly three decades in prison after he declined to be expelled to the U.S. as part of a prisoner release.

U.S. military intervention in Mexico not needed, ambassador says MEXICO CITY - U.S. military intervention in Mexico is unnecessary, the U.S. ambassador to the country said, following calls from some Republican lawmakers after two Americans were killed and two others kidnapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas.

"Some proposals have been put on the table, talk about a military force in Mexico. It's not going to bring us the solutions that we need," Ambassador Ken Salazar said. The same day, Mexican authorities said five purported cartel members had been arrested in relation to the incident.

Paraguay's president meets with Argentine counterpart BUENOS AIRES - Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez met with his Argentine counterpart in Buenos Aires, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said in a tweet.

The two leaders discussed challenges facing the regional bloc Mercosur, including ongoing negotiations with the European Union over a possible trade deal, Fernandez's office said in a statement. Brazil's Lula says economy will grow with more jobs

SAO PAULO - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the country's gross domestic product (GDP) will grow this year because the government will work to boost job creation. "We cannot accept the idea that GDP won't grow because someone said so," Lula told ministers ahead of a meeting. "We will tell them that GDP will grow because we will create jobs."

The leftist president also said he wants state-owned banks to help with economic growth by investing and granting credit. He praised his economic team and said he believes they will manage to "find money" for investments. (Compiled by Steven Grattan, Carolina Pulice and Kylie Madry; Editing by Sandra Maler)

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