MOSCOW: Russia's foreign minister has rebuffed calls on Moscow to back sanctions against Syria, saying that ultimatums won't help end the crisis.

Sergey Lavrov also slammed the West for taking an "immoral" stance on Syria by raising the pressure on President Bashar Assad's government while turning a blind eye to violent action by militants.

Lavrov said at Tuesday's news conference following his talks with Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci that Moscow has advised Syria to accept Arab League observers as quickly as possible. He said that observers from Russia, Brazil, India and China may also join the Arab League monitors.

Russia has staunchly resisted a Western push for sanctions on Assad's regime over its violent crackdown on protests.