Tuesday, July 4 2006 10:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: Amid the standoff in Middle East over a teenaged Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants, Russia yesterday (July 3,2006) asked both parties to the conflict to show restraint and put an end to the spiralling violence.

"We are witnessing another spiral of violence that must be stopped at all costs, which requires patience and wisdom from both sides," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his visiting Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni.

He added relations could only be normalised if both sides made efforts.

"Therefore, we urge the Israeli government to show the maximum restraint," he said.

He urged both sides and the international community to pursue a responsible policy to normalise the situation. "We expect and hope that the Road Map plan (for peace) will be implemented," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

For her part, Livni said the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier last week had shown the real character of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, which was elected to govern the country in January.

Russia is the only country of West Asia quartet of mediators that has ties with Hamas, declared "terrorist" by the US and EU. Moscow was also among the first to invite the Hamas leadership for parleys after it was elected.

Livni, on a one-day visit amid the fresh crisis, also called on president Vladimir Putin to urge him to mediate between Tel-Aviv and Hamas-led Palestinian government to seek the release of abducted Israeli soldier.