Russia said a new massacre in Syria in which at least 55 civilians were reported killed was a provocation aimed at undermining the faltering peace plan of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

Russia said a new massacre in Syria in which at least 55 civilians were reported killed was a provocation aimed at undermining the faltering peace plan of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
  
"There is no question that certain forces, not for the first time, are using the most brutal and vile provocations to undermine the plan of Kofi Annan," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.
  
He was referring to the latest violence in Hama in televised comments to a regular media briefing.

Militiamen armed with guns and knives swept through the village of Al-Kubeir in central Syria on Wednesday, slaughtering at least 55 people, including women and children. Citizens there called for Syrian security forces’ help who in turn entered the village and two of its members were killed.

"In the current, very difficult situation, the answer to these provocations must be the consolidation of efforts of the international community to support the (Annan's plan)... and the firm and complete implementation by the Syrian government and the opposition of all points of Annan's plan," Lukashevich said.
  
"It is imperative that the foreign players who are taking part in settling the Syrian problem use their channels to influence the armed opposition groups, whose increased recent activity and calls for outside intervention contradict this plan," he added. "This will help prevent a repeat of the tragedies in Houla and Hama."