DAMASCUS – The Russian Foreign Ministry reported of mortar shelling on thecountry’s trade representative building in the Syrian capital. Nocasualties were sustained, but the building itself is severely damaged.

The ministry urged international and regional partners to make objectivevalue judgments about the shelling.

“There are no casualties. The building has suffered significant damage. Westrongly condemn yet another terrorist attack against the diplomaticmission of Russia in Damascus, which has become a link in the chainof crimes committed by them [terrorists] against the civilian populationof the Syrianlink>capitalin recent days,” the ministry said in a statement.

Shortly before that, a source told Sputnik that the diplomatic areaof Damascus sustained mortar shelling on Tuesday, adding that the buildingof the Russian trade mission of was bombed.

Addressing the incident, the Russian Foreign Ministry the attack took placeon February 6 at approximately 4 p.m. local time [1 p.m. GMT], when a120-mm mine landed in the building (which is now suspended, but continuesto have a diplomatic immunity).

“We call on international and regional partners to take an unbiased lookat what is happening, and to give a proper and principled assessment of theactions of those who commit terrorist attacks directed against diplomaticmissions, religious buildings and humanitarian missions,” the statementsaid.

According to Syria’s state SANA news agency, the shelling from rebel areason parts of the old city of Damascus killed at least three people and lefteight people injured.