BOGOTA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group announced Monday that it had declared a ceasefire during the legislative elections in the country on March 11.

"As a show of respect for the Colombians who go to cast their vote, the ELN will realize a halt in offensive military operations, between the 9-13 March," it said in a statement.

On March 11, Colombians will vote for both chambers of Congress, ahead of presidential elections on May 27.

The guerrilla group expressed the importance of moving forward on the agreement struck in March 2016, which led to peace talks in Ecuador, and which was suspended in January by President Juan Manuel Santos.

Santos' decision came after the guerrilla took responsibility for attacks on police stations in northern Colombia, which killed a number of officers.

In the statement, the ELN said it was willing to begin new peace negotiations in the fifth round of talks, expressing its hope for an evaluation of the past ceasefire and the beginning of a new one.