Russia says 'Syria terrorists need decisive rebuff'

Russia on Saturday said it backed delivering a "decisive rebuff" to "terrorists" operating in Syria a day after state television reported 11 people killed in a bomb blast outside a Damascus mosque. "We are convinced that the terrorists operating in Syria need a decisive rebuff, and that all domestic and outside players need to prevent any support" from reaching the rebel forces, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Syrian state television on Friday reported that 11 people were killed and 28 wounded in a suicide attack in the historic Midan neighbourhood in the heart of the capital. It said the attack near the Zein al-Abidine mosque took place "while worshippers were making their way out." Russia has previously argued that a ceasefire brokered by international envoy Kofi Annan was largely holding despite periodic episodes of violence and has urged all sides to engage in direct talks. But its criticism of the rebels has been more explicit than its condemnation of attacks observers pin on the Syrian army. Damascus is a long-standing Russian ally and Moscow blocked two rounds UN sanctions against Bashar al-Assad's regime in the past year. Russia on Saturday accused the rebels of trying to undermine Annan's peace efforts as part of a broader campaign to get foreign powers drawn into the conflict. "Moscow resolutely condemns these barbaric acts," the foreign ministry said. "We are especially concerned by attempts by Syria's intransigent opposition -- even at the cost of the death of innocent civilians -- to intensify the situation in the country and incite violence," the statement said.