Washington: United States has charged the Tamil Tiger rebels for engaging in activities undermining the peace process in Sri Lanka and called upon them to renounce terrorism and comply with the cease-fire agreement.

"The US calls on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to renounce terrorism and cease terrorist acts, including political assassination, and to comply with terms of the ceasefire agreement they signed," State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said on August 6.

"We note with concern, activity by the Tamil Tigers that is undermining confidence in the peace process at this critical juncture," he added.

More than three dozen people, all of whom were alleged to be political opponents of the Tamil Tigers have been assassinated in Sri Lanka so far this year. Also, the Tigers continue to maintain a military camp in Trincomalee, identified by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission as a violation of the February 2002 ceasefire agreement, he said.

"The United States looks forward to a timely resumption of peace talks in Sri Lanka. With a constructive approach and willingness to compromise, a negotiated solution to the conflict is possible," Reeker said.

The LTTE withdrew from the talks saying the government failed to deliver the promises made at six rounds of negotiations held since September. The government, meanwhile, submitted a proposal on July 17 to resume talks through Norwegian mediators, which, the rebels were still reviewing.

PTI