MOSCOW - Russia's government has indicated that it would not oppose a UN Security Council resolution condemning the violence in Syria.

Sergei Vershinin, chief of the Foreign Ministry's Middle East and North Africa Department, told Russian news agencies Tuesday that Russia is "not categorically against" adopting a new UN resolution on Syria. But he said such a resolution should not impose sanctions because that would only escalate the conflict.

Syrian troops have killed nearly 100 people in two days, firing at worshippers heading to Ramadan prayers in the city on Hama, an opposition stronghold.