Thursday, April 7 2005 09:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington/United Nations: The United Nations and the United States strongly condemn yesterday's (Apr 6, 2005) terror attacks on the building housing the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus passengers.

The United States yesterday condemned as a "wanton act of terror on a powerful symbol of rapprochement" the militant attack on the building housing passengers for the inaugural Srinagar- Muzaffarabad bus service and expressed support to the leaders of India and Pakistan in their efforts to reduce tensions.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the April 6 attack on the bus complex in Srinagar," the State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

"This was a wanton act of terror on a powerful symbol of rapprochement between India and Pakistan."

"Ordinary Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) strongly support this bus line that will restore linkages between them for the first time since 1947. We must not allow attempts to frustrate their hopes to succeed," Boucher said in a statement.

"We applaud the leaders of India and Pakistan for their statesmanship and efforts to reduce tensions. They will continue to have our strong support as they resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue," he added.

The United Nations also condemned the guerrilla attack on a trans-Kashmir bus complex.

"The Secretary General strongly condemns the attack that took place on a complex housing passengers for today's (Apr 7, 2005) inaugural bus service between Muzzafarabad and Srinagar across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesman for UN chief Kofi Annan said.

"The introduction of this landmark bus service is a tangible achievement of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan," the spokesman added. "Its beneficiaries will be the people of Kashmir who have been divided for decades and traumatised by violence."