UN Security Council fails to condemn Syria violence

An EU bid for the UN Security Council to condemn Syria's deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters was shot down on Wednesday by Russia, China and Lebanon. The draft resolution condemning the violence in Syria was proposed by France, Germany, Britain and Portugal, but met with strong resistance from China and Russia, who said the violence in Syria did not present a threat to international security and therefore did not merit the Council's intervention. UN Security Council fails to condemn Syria violence Russia warned that any "outside interference" in Syria could cause civil war in the country. The draft's defeat comes just days after the 15-nation body failed to reach a resolution on similar events in Yemen, revealing a growing rift on how to handle uprisings in the Arab world. The proposed draft called for a full independent investigation of the brutal crackdown against anti-government protesters. However, Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari rejected any outside interference even before the meeting. "We will undertake any investigation by ourselves, with full transparency. We have nothing to hide," he told reporters. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon meanwhile said he was watching events in Syria "with increasingly grave concern." "I condemn, utterly, the continuing violence against peaceful demonstrators, most particularly the use of tanks and live fire that killed and injured hundreds of people," he said. Germany on Wednesday condemned what it called "severe human rights violations" and said it was strongly in favor of EU sanctions against the Syrian regime. "It is being examined, also based on a German initiative, whether it is possible to agree EU sanctions against the Syrian leadership. We would strongly support such sanctions," government Spokesman Steffen Seibert said in Berlin. “Measures could include travel bans, a freeze on assets and cutting economic aid from the EU,” he added. Five EU countries, including Germany, have summoned their respective Syrian ambassadors to condemn the repression and EU envoys are expected to discuss possible sanctions against Syria in Brussels on Friday. Meanwhile there are signs of growing unease and dissent within the Syrian military with reports that officers were breaking ranks and refusing to fire on protesters. At the same time, more than 200 members of President Bashar al-Assad's ruling Baath Party were said to have resigned in protest at the violent crackdown. Rights groups say at least 400 people have been killed by security forces since the unrest began last month. President Assad last week signed off on legislation ending over 40 years of emergency rule in an apparent concession to anti-regime protesters. However the opposition dismissed the move as mere window dressing and said other demands such as more political freedom and the release of political prisoners had been ignored. UN Security Council meeting (Beta, file)

UN Security Council fails to condemn Syria violence

Russia warned that any "outside interference" in Syria could cause civil war in the country.

The draft's defeat comes just days after the 15-nation body failed to reach a resolution on similar events in Yemen, revealing a growing rift on how to handle uprisings in the Arab world.

The proposed draft called for a full independent investigation of the brutal crackdown against anti-government protesters. However, Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari rejected any outside interference even before the meeting.

"We will undertake any investigation by ourselves, with full transparency. We have nothing to hide," he told reporters.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon meanwhile said he was watching events in Syria "with increasingly grave concern."

"I condemn, utterly, the continuing violence against peaceful demonstrators, most particularly the use of tanks and live fire that killed and injured hundreds of people," he said.

Germany on Wednesday condemned what it called "severe human rights violations" and said it was strongly in favor of EU sanctions against the Syrian regime.

"It is being examined, also based on a German initiative, whether it is possible to agree EU sanctions against the Syrian leadership. We would strongly support such sanctions," government Spokesman Steffen Seibert said in Berlin.

“Measures could include travel bans, a freeze on assets and cutting economic aid from the EU,” he added.

Five EU countries, including Germany, have summoned their respective Syrian ambassadors to condemn the repression and EU envoys are expected to discuss possible sanctions against Syria in Brussels on Friday.

Meanwhile there are signs of growing unease and dissent within the Syrian military with reports that officers were breaking ranks and refusing to fire on protesters. At the same time, more than 200 members of President Bashar al-Assad's ruling Baath Party were said to have resigned in protest at the violent crackdown.

Rights groups say at least 400 people have been killed by security forces since the unrest began last month.

President Assad last week signed off on legislation ending over 40 years of emergency rule in an apparent concession to anti-regime protesters. However the opposition dismissed the move as mere window dressing and said other demands such as more political freedom and the release of political prisoners had been ignored.