Russia, China veto UN resolution

Russia and China vetoed a new UN Security Council resolution on Thursday that would have slapped new sanctions on the Syrian regime, while India was among the 11 countries that voted in favour.

Western countries have been pushing for a resolution that threatens sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad if government forces don’t stop attacks.

However, Russia has opposed any international effort that would blame, punish or change the leadership of the Syrian government.

Russia and China have vetoed two previous draft resolutions in the UN Security Council, leading to accusations that Russia is protecting the Syrian regime.

The resolution, proposed by France, Germany, UK and the US, got two abstentations.

UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN Mark Lyall Grant said Britain was “appalled” by the decision of Russia and China.

Ahead of the vote, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan had appealed to the Security Council to unite and take concerted action to help end the escalating bloodshed in Syria and build momentum for a political transition.

The Syrian resolution had sought non-military sanctions under Chapter 7 against Assad’s regime.

As the 16-month old Syrian conflict worsens, the powerful Security Council has remained divided over the action and measures that need to be taken to get Assad to end the bloodshed and violence.

The resolution on Syria had sought to extend the UN observer mission in the country for 45 days.

The resolution is tied to Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which would allow the Council to authorise diplomatic and economic sanctions as well as military intervention.