Cricketer ambush an attack on Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations: United States

Mar 04, 2009 (LBO) – An armed ambush of the Sri Lanka cricket team, which visited Pakistan when India pulled out of a tournament, was an attack on peaceful relations among the two South Asian nations, the United States said. Several Pakistan policemen who were protecting the players died in the attack. "This is not just an attack on individuals; this is an attack on peaceful, normal relations," acting State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters.

Twelve armed men ambushed a bus carrying Sri Lanka's cricket team in the Pakistan city of Lahore yesterday.

Duguid said Sri Lanka and Pakistan were trying to have "positive relations", and said the US "utterly condemned" the attack.

The team arrived in Sri Lanka early Wednesday and star batsman Thilan Samaraweera was rushed to a city private hospital for further treatment.

Sri Lanka replaced India who refused to tour the country in the wake of attacks in Mumbai in November amid heightened security fears.