MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia condemned on Saturday the latest terrorist attack in Israel and urged the Palestinian leadership "to take all measures to stop extremist actions."

    "It is now of crucial importance not to allow the opponents of the peaceful settlement to stamp out the beginnings of hope for the better future for the Palestinians and Israelis," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko as saying.

    The overnight suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, the first terrorist act after Israel and Palestinian reached a ceasefire agreement at the groundbreaking Feb. 8 summit, claimed five lives and wounded more than 56 others.

    Yakovenko urged Israelis and Palestinians to strengthen cooperation in security area and implement all agreements reached at that summit.

    The spokesman also noted that negotiations must continue on the Roadmap peace plan intended to settle the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

    Russia, a member of the international quartet sponsoring the Roadmap plan together with the European Union, United States and the United Nations, is ready to do all it can to establish a lasting and fair peace in the Middle East, Yakovenko said. Enditem