Russia Condemns Syria 'Bloody Atrocity'

Russia on Friday condemned the latest reported massacre in Syria as a "bloody atrocity" which it blamed on forces that want to foment inter-ethnic conflict and civil war.

The Russian foreign ministry said it believed between 50 and 100 people were killed Thursday in the central village of Treimsa in an attack the rebels and the government of President Bashar Assad have both blamed on each other.

"We resolutely condemn this bloody atrocity," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia once again called for an immediate end to the violence and a thorough investigation that could identify those behind the attack.

"There is no question in our mind that this atrocity is advantageous to forces that do not seek peace and instead stubbornly try to cultivate seeds of inter-ethnic violence and civil war on Syrian soil," the statement said.

Russia often accuses the rebels of trying to block any negotiations with Assad's regime by trying to incite greater violence that could eventually draw in foreign powers.