sport news Liverpool star Luis Diaz's father 'to be released within hours' after being ... trends now
Luis Diaz's father will reportedly be released 'within hours' as talks continue between the Colombian Government and his captors, the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The Colombian Government revealed on Thursday that the ELN had been responsible for the kidnapping of both Diaz's parents last weekend.
Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported authorities have been promised by the ELN that Diaz's father will be released within the next few hours.
Members of the ELN group have reportedly claimed to the Colombian magazine Semana that they were unaware members of the organisation had kidnapped Diaz's parents.
The group are claimed to have provide assurances they will ask for Luis Manuel Diaz to be released.
The Colombian Government have provided a major update in their search for Luis Diaz's father
The Colombian Government say Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped by a terrorist group
Diaz's father Luis Manuel (above) and mother Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped in Colombia last week and the 26-year-old footballer has since remained in England for 'security reasons'
Diaz's mother Cilenis Marulanda was released a few hours after the kidnapping on October 28, but his father has remained missing five days later.
Otty Patino, who is representing the Government in the talks, confirmed they had been informed the ELN were responsible for the kidnapping.
In a statement Patino called for the release of Diaz's father.
'Today we have officially learned that the kidnapping carried out on October 28, in Barrancas, department of La Guajira, of which Luis Manuel Díaz and Cilenis Marulanda, father and mother of the soccer player Luis Fernando, were victims Díaz Marulanda, was perpetrated by a unit belonging to the ELN,' the statement read.
'Although Mrs. Marulanda was released a few hours later, the player's father has been kidnapped for five days.
'As a delegation of the National Government for peace talks with the ELN, we express all our solidarity with Luis Díaz, his family, with the entire country and with the millions of followers of the player in the world.
'We demand that the ELN immediately release Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz, and we remind him that it is his entire responsibility to guarantee his life and integrity.
'We remind the ELN that kidnapping is a criminal practice, violative of International Humanitarian Law, and that it is its duty in the development of the current peace process, not only to stop carrying it out, but also to eliminate it forever.
The Liverpool star's mother (above in 2019, left centre) has been rescued after the pair were snatched off the streets of Colombia last week, but his father's whereabouts are still unknown
Diaz's mother (centre) led a community march demanding her husband's release on Tuesday
