OSLO - Russia opposed a UN Security Council vote on condemning Syria's crackdown on anti-government protests, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Tuesday.

Lavrov told reporters in Oslo that the Syria issue should be solved through political means and effort should be made to avoid the situation sliding into another armed conflict, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

His words came after France, Britain and the United States are pushing for a UN Security Council vote condemning Syria's crackdown on opposition protests.

A wave of protests has swept across Syria since March 15. Unconfirmed reports said at least hundreds of people, including security forces, have been killed in the unrest.