Moscow  - Moscow added its voice Saturday to calls for an immediate end to Middle East violence after the Israeli airstrikes that left scores dead in the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko called on Israel to end its "combat activities which have already led to great loss and suffering among the peaceful Palestinian population."

At the same time he called on the Hamas organisation to stop its rocket attacks against Israeli territory.

Nesterenko stressed that the problems of the Middle East had to be solved at the negotiating table. An international conference is due to go ahead in Moscow in the New Year. (dpa)