Luis Diaz's father kidnapped by terrorist group as Colombian media issue update on his release

Luis Diaz's father, Manuel, is reportedly set to be released imminently after the Colombian government confirmed that he had been kidnapped by a terrorist group.

Both of the Liverpool star's parents were abducted at a petrol station on Saturday, though his mother was released the same day.

However, his father has still not been found, with the Colombian government launching a huge search in the the northern La Guajira region of the country.

While the government have also confirmed that that the National Liberation Army (ELN) criminal group are behind the kidnappings.

According to Colombian outlet El Tiempo, the group will cooperate with the police and coordinate the return of Manuel 'in the next few hours'.

Meanwhile, Colombian journalist Vicky Davila has claimed that the ELN was unaware that they themselves had kidnapped him and assured that they will ask for his release immediately.

The government were informed of the fact the ELN were responsible while holding peace talks with the group.

Government representative Otty Patino, who is in charge of the talks, said on Thursday: "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.

"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.

"As part of the development of the agreement on the Ceasefire, our delegation will present this case to the current Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, and will carry out all necessary actions to achieve the immediate release and with guarantee of the life and integrity of Mr. Díaz."

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