The European Union on Wednesday formalised a ban of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers, and urged both the rebels and the island's government to halt a rash of killings that are threatening to plunge the island back into civil war. The ban by the 25-nation bloc, which was agreed behind closed doors in Brussels will freeze the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) funds and assets in member states as well as prohibit the provision of financial services to them. "The EU still sees a need for the LTTE to amend its violent course and return to peace talks," Austria, current EU president, said in a statement on behalf of the bloc. "The EU stresses that its decision is directed at the LTTE and not at the Tamil people." "The upsurge of violence is not caused by the LTTE alone," it added. "The EU strongly urges the Sri Lankan authorities to curb violence in government-controlled areas. The EU notes with concern the growing number of reports of extra judicial killings."