MOSCOW. May 28 (Interfax) - Both Syrian sides are involved in the tragedy in Houla, a suburb of Damascus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a Monday press conference after negotiations with British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
"We are dealing with a situation in which both sides are obviously involved in the deaths of civilians, including several dozens of women and children," he said.
"The area is under the control of armed militants, but it is also surrounded by governmental forces," he said.
The UN Security Council has ordered the UN observation mission in Syria to find out the cause and consequences of the incident, the minister said.
"Our position was expressed in a press release, which was endorsed at the UN Security Council yesterday and strongly condemned any violence, and stressed the responsibility of the Syrian government for the fulfillment of the Annan plan, primarily in the prevention of use of heavy armaments in residential areas, and the responsibility of the armed opposition not to use violence, as ordered by the Annan plan," Lavrov said.
He reminded reporters that the UN Security Council held a special meeting on the Houla tragedy at Russia's proposal.
"We also initiated a briefing by UN mission in Syria head Gen. Robert Mood at the UN Security Council, who said what the UN observers had seen on the tragedy scene," Lavrov said.
Mood confirmed traces of artillery and tank shelling of the town. He also said there were numerous bodies shot in the head from a close range and other traces of violent deaths.