The Federal Government of Germany has sharply condemned last week's LTTE attack in Colombo and has pledged its support to seeking a peaceful solution to the prevailing problem. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel in a message to Foreign Minister Kadirgamar has said that he personally is particularly shocked about the fact that there were school children among the victims of the bomb attack in Colombo.

Foreign Minister Kinkel has further noted that "the enemies of peace have used terrorist violence again in order to prevent a peaceful solution to the conflict in your country. I am convinced that even this terrible incident will not stop your Government from continuing its efforts to bring about a peaceful solution. In this respect, you can continue to count on the support of the Federal Government".

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN STRONGLY CONDEMNS LTTE SUICIDE BOMBING IN COLOMBO

The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday expressed outrage at the news of the LTTE suicide-bombing in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Thursday, which has killed and injured a large number of civilians, including children.

In a statement issued from New York the Secretary-General noted that he condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the use of violence against civilians. "Terrorism cannot be condoned in any circumstances. He calls for an end to the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, which has brought considerable suffering to many innocent noncombatants, and for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the problem." The Secretary -General also extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the blast.

UNGA PRESIDENT SAYS LAST WEEK'S LTTE ATTACK IN COLOMBO DESERVES UNEQUIVOCAL INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION

The president of the UN General Assembly, Hennadiy Udovenko has expressed shock at last week's bomb explosion in Colombo and has said that the attack deserves "unequivocal international condemnation". The statement from New York noted that the UNGA President is appalled by this senseless act of violence against civilians which has resulted in the deaths and injuries of a large number of innocent people including children.

The statement further notes, "Recalling that in its recent resolution the Assembly strongly condemned all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, the Assembly President urges perpetrators of such attacks to break the vicious cycle of violence that only brings suffering to non-combatants while preventing a peaceful resolution of conflicts. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the UNGA President has also underscored the importance of the early entry into force of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings adopted during the current session of the UN General Assembly.

AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CONDEMNS LAST WEEK'S BOMB ATTACK IN MARADANA AND NOTES THAT THE ATTACK BEARS "ALL THE HALLMARKS OF THE LTTE"

The Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has condemned last week's bomb attack by the LTTE at a busy intersection in the heart of Colombo, and has noted that the attack bears all the hallmarks of the LTTE.

The statement issued by Australian Foreign Minister notes, "I strongly condemn the bomb attack which took place in Colombo on 5th March... at lunch time in one of the busiest sections of the city... This is the second bombing in Colombo in four weeks and the fifth major blast in Sri Lanka in as many months... Although they traditionally never admit responsibility for their attacks in urban areas, this latest outrage bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam".

The Australian Foreign Minister has extended his sympathy to the families of the victims of this attack and to Sri Lanka "at this difficult time".

SWISS JOURNAL DESCRIBES THE WORLD FEDERATION OF TAMIL ASSOCIATIONS AS "A SMOKE SCREEN FOR THE LTTE".

Geneva's leading French Daily "Journal de Geneve et Gazette de Lausanne" in a recent article has drawn the attention of the Swiss authorities to the increasing activity of the LTTE in that country which has become a threat to Swiss nationals.

The article in the 5th February issue describes the World Tamil Movement based in Lucerne, Switzerland as a "smoke screen for the LTTE , one of the most murderous guerrillas in the world", adding that "it is used to replace and represent the LTTE in countries where it is banned such as in the USA or Switzerland where the tigers are considered as an organisation of 'revolutionary terrorists' by the Public Ministry of the Confederation."

The report says the Federal Police acknowledges its limitations to act with efficiency against the LTTE in Switzerland due to lack of proof, but acknowledges that the Tamils of Switzerland are being pressurised by the group. The Writer notes that the fact that only a few hundred people attended this year's protest demonstration earlier this month - well under the LTTE's claim of 2000 -reflects that there appears to be a toning down of the unshared power the tigers are having over the Tamils of Switzerland" and views it as "a sign that the community's 'spontaneous support' of the LTTE has its limits".

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