MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov on Sunday called for waiting for the results of deep and objective investigation into the tragic incident that took place in al-Houla in Homs countryside and the deductions of the international observers in Syria, since there is information proving that the victims were not killed by artillery fire.

On his Twitter feed, Gatilov said that there's news indicating that the wounds inflicted upon many of the victims of al-Houla massacre are not the result of artillery fire, therefore one must wait for objective evaluation from the international observers.

He stressed that the tragic events in al-Houla and the murder of scores are worthy of condemnation, but there serious efforts must be made to found out the reasons for what happened.

Meanwhile in New York, Russia's Permanent Representative at the UN Igor Pankin questioned the allegations that the Syrian armed forces are responsible for al-Houla massacre.

In statements at the beginning of the UN Security Council session on developments in Syria, which convened upon Russia's request, Pankin said that most victims in al-Houla were killed by bladed weapons or executed from close range, which contradicts the allegations that the victims were killed by artillery fire.

He added that the number of victims is inconsistent with the destruction witnessed in the area.

H. Sabbagh