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Russia has strongly condemned Syria 's massacre of almost 108 people. "The (Syrian) government bears the main responsibility for what is going on," CBS News quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying after a meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "Any government in any country bears responsibility for the security of its citizens," Lavrov added. Russia blamed both the government and the rebels for the Houla massacre. "Both sides have obviously had a hand in the deaths of innocent people, including several dozen women and children," Lavrov said. He said Russia has no interest in propping up Assad, but wants Syria to guide its own transition under a plan brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan. "We don't support the Syrian government; we support Kofi Annan's plan," Lavrov said. Hague has reportedly issued an ultimatum to Russia to intervene in the Syrian crisis before 'it was too late'. He also warned that the massacre of over 100 people, including 32 young children in Houla, had taken Syria to the brink of civil war. Hague said that Russia now faced a stark choice between using its leverage with the Syrian President Bashar-al Assad regime or risking it's last bastion of influence in the Middle East descending into chaos.

Russia condemns Syria for Houla massacre