Thursday, April 28 2005 19:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States has listed Assam's banned militant outfit ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) and the Communist Party of India (Maoist), formed after the merger of various naxalite groups, as terrorist outfits.

They have been mentioned in the list of Other Selected Terrorist Organisations (OSTO), released by the US Department of State in its Country Reports on Terrorism released yesterday (Apr 27, 2005).

Terror organisations that do not target the national interests of the United States or its citizens are listed in the OSTO.

The listing of the two organisations under OSTO follows the attacks by the outfits on civilians, said the Country Report on Terrorism on India.

Referring to the ULFA as the most prominent group in the Northeast, the report said it uses extortion to finance military training and weapons purchases.

The outfit reportedly procures and trades in arms with other Northeast Indian groups and may have linkages with other ethnic insurgent groups active in neighbouring States, it said.

According to the report, the ULFA receives aid from unknown external sources.

In eastern India, the report said, the primary Naxalite groups took steps towards consolidation by combining to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Naxalite violence dropped significantly in 2004, but the future of peace talks was uncertain at the year's end, it said.

It also expanded the description of Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba to include its operation under various fronts and names of convenience.