Some days before the national elections on 12 March, extreme left-wing guerrillas and right wing paramilitaries dominate political debate in Colombia. Thursday 2 March, the leaders of ELN (National liberation Army) announced a unilateral truce for the elections. On the other hand, FARC rebels increased their attacks.

Demobilised paramilitaries are also in the hot seat: international observers and the Colombian press are criticising the pressures that these militia and leaders who have links with drug traffickers are putting on local activities.

But apparently it will take more to tarnish the image of President Alvaro Uribe who according to surveys has 70% of the vote. The Head of State confirmed officially his candidature to be elected for a second term in the elections on 28 May.

Leaders of ELN announced their decision, not to hinder the holding of elections, in Havana. Since December 2005 the capital of Cuba has been the base of those rebels who have accepted the principal of exploratory talks with representatives of the Uribe government.

"The announced truce is partial- the ELN has not given up all forms of violence- but it is an advance without precedence towards peace, notes Alfredo Rangel, analyst and candidate in the Senate elections. For the first time ELN are recognising implicitly the legitimacy of the electoral system".

Friday, the government agreed to recognise the "political status" of the guerrilla leaders. The organisation which numbers about 4000-armed men - according to official figures that are probably overestimated -, has been weakened considerably.

On the ground the impact of the truce will be limited. But politically, the prospect of a negotiated peace with ELN is a success for Uribe.

FAR guerrillas who number about 17000 refuse all negotiations. Five out of twenty regions in the country have been, for two weeks, paralysed in part by their "armed picket lines".

Public and private vehicles that break the 'no driving 'ban are liable to reprisals by the rebels. Tens of lorries and cars have already been burned. Eighteen people, among them nine councillors were assassinated a week ago. An affront for a government that had promised to bring peace to the country.

A Challenge to Democracy

Paramilitaries are providing a challenge of a different type to Colombian democracy. The result of peace talks undertaken by the Uribe government: more than 22 000 militia have officially laid down their weapons.

But a report by the Organisations of American States released this week, confirms that 4000 combatants have gone underground. "The hasty demobilisation of drug linked paramilitaries has revealed what everyone has known. The demobilised leaders have publicly admitted their links with some military, a section of the political class and regional leaders", stated analyst Claudia Lopez.

Paramilitary leaders are not hiding their political ambitions. In March 2002, Salvador Mancuso, leader of the paramilitaries admitted while in hiding, that he controlled 35 % of parliamentary representatives. According to Mrs Lopez, " there is no possibility that paramilitary influence in the parliament will weaken". According to the daily El Tiempo of 2 March, "Jorge 49" a blood- thirsty paramilitary commander on the Caribbean coast takes part openly in the elections campaigns of candidates that he has approved.