WASHINGTON, Jan 29: The United States on Friday condemned the deadly bomb attack on an Awami League rally in Bangladesh and sought prompt government action to expose those behind what it called "political terrorism".

The attack, coming just over a week before Dhaka hosts the Saarc summit, was the second fatal bombing assault on an Awami League rally in the last six months.

"Like the Aug 21 attack in Dhaka, this incident is an assault on the principles of free speech, democracy and peaceful political opposition," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

The previous grenade attack on the Awami League rally killed more than 20 people and the opposition had branded it an assassination attempt against Sheikh Hasina, a former prime minister.

Mr Boucher said the failure to bring to justice the perpetrators of such political violence fostered an "intimidating climate of insecurity and impunity" that encouraged further attacks.-AFP