US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has condemned the assassination of Sri Lanka's foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar as a 'senseless murder and vicious act of terror' and urged Sri Lankans not to let it lead to resumed civil war.
In Crawford, Texas, where US President George W Bush is vacationing, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said "we condemn this outrageous and barbaric act" and sent condolences to the Sri Lankan government and Kadirgamar's family.
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Rice, who said she last saw Kadirgamar in June, said she was shocked and saddened by his death. "This senseless murder was a vicious act of terror, which the United States strongly condemns," she said in a statement.
"Those responsible must be brought to justice."
She said her Sri Lankan colleague "was a man of dignity, honour and integrity, who devoted his life to bringing peace to Sri Lanka. Together, we must honour his memory by rededicating ourselves to peace and ensuring that the cease-fire remains in force."