Russia calls on Palestinians to cease feuding

Russia on Tuesday called on feuding Palestinians factions to stop the violence that has raised fears of imminent civil war. The statement by the Foreign Ministry came a day after hundreds of Palestinian police loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas went on a rampage against the Hamas government. Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement posted on the ministry Web site that Russia was concerned about increasing instability in Palestinian territories. "All political forces should return to legal solutions, stop civil strife and unite around the central idea of forming an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the existing solutions of the international community," Kamynin said.