WASHINGTON, June 15: The United States on Thursday blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for a bus attack that left 64 passengers, including 15 children, dead in Sri Lanka, saying it was a clear violation of a ceasefire agreement.

“This vicious attack bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.

“It is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement that the Tamil Tigers claim to uphold,” he said, condemning the terrorist attack on Thursday.

The bombing of the bus in the ethnic Sinhalese North-Central province was the deadliest attack on civilians in Sri Lanka for 10 years, the Sri Lankan military said, pointing a finger at the Tigers.

Colombo hit back at suspected Tamil Tiger positions across the island’s embattled northeast using supersonic jets, naval gunboats and artillery.

The rebels, who are waging a campaign for independence, have denied involvement and said the blast was aimed at discrediting them.

“The United States calls for an end to the violence that is causing so much suffering for the people of Sri Lanka and resumption of negotiations to bring peace to the country,” McCormack said.—AFP