Annan condemns Lankan bombing

United Nations, Apr 26: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has strongly condemned the suicide bombing at a military installation in Sri Lanka.

The bombing killed several army officials and civilians and seriously wounded the Sri Lankan army chief.

The UN chief called on the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatists to resume peace talks immediately.

In a statement issued here yesterday Mr Annan said ''no cause can justify such acts of violence.'' He also expressed condolences to the families of the bereaved and the government.

''The Secretary-General is disturbed by the rapidly escalating violence on the island, as seen in a vicious cycle of attacks and retaliations that appears to seriously endanger the fragile peace process,'' the statement said adding that ''he would like to again stress that a return to civil war will not resolve outstanding differences between the parties. He calls on the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to summon the political will to resume their dialogue under the facilitation of the Norwegian government.''

UNI