Russia, China’s veto sparks outrage in western countries

NEW YORK, BEIJING, DAMASCUS The UN Observer Mission’s mandate in Syria will expire at midnight and it is uncertain whether the UN Security Council will approve its extension. Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Syria for the third time, sparking outrage by the Western nations which demanded sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad. Russia, China’s veto sparks outrage in western countries It is expected that the UN Security Council will vote today, Reuters has reported, adding that new rival resolutions intended to simply extend the mission. Pakistan, with the support of Russia, is proposing a 45-day extension, while Britain has put forward a 30-day extension. The Western countries and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have strongly reacted to Russia and China’s veto. “The effect of their actions is to protect a brutal regime. They have chosen to put their national interests ahead of the lives of millions of Syrians," Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told the 15-member Security Council after the vote. The U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, called the Russian and Chinese moves "dangerous and deplorable" and said the Security Council had "failed utterly." French Ambassador Gerard Araud called it a sad day for Syria, says Reuters. Ban said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Security Council vote on Thursday. "The hour is grave. The international community has a collective responsibility to the Syrian people," he said in a statement. In the meantime, at least 248 people died in clashes in Syria on Thursday, according to the Human Rights Observatory. According to the organization, 109 civilians, 93 soldiers and 46 extremists and deserters lost their lives. It was reported last night that the Syrian rebels had taken over control of all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey. AFP has reported that one more Syrian general fled to Turkey. The UN Security Council (Beta) “West seeks green light for military intervention” An influential Chinese party daily has accused the West of seeking the green light for a military intervention in Syria after Beijing and Moscow vetoed the adoption of the resolution on Syria in the UN Security Council on Thursday. “Frankly speaking, Western countries attempted to push the UN to vote for the sanction resolution in order to get the green light for their military intervention,'' said the People's Daily, the Communist party paper, AFP has reported. The daily's comments echoed those of Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who said the resolution aimed to “open the path to the pressure of sanctions and further to external military involvement in Syrian domestic affairs.'' Tanjug

Russia, China’s veto sparks outrage in western countries

It is expected that the UN Security Council will vote today, Reuters has reported, adding that new rival resolutions intended to simply extend the mission. Pakistan, with the support of Russia, is proposing a 45-day extension, while Britain has put forward a 30-day extension.

The Western countries and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have strongly reacted to Russia and China’s veto.

“The effect of their actions is to protect a brutal regime. They have chosen to put their national interests ahead of the lives of millions of Syrians," Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told the 15-member Security Council after the vote.

The U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, called the Russian and Chinese moves "dangerous and deplorable" and said the Security Council had "failed utterly."

French Ambassador Gerard Araud called it a sad day for Syria, says Reuters.

Ban said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Security Council vote on Thursday.

"The hour is grave. The international community has a collective responsibility to the Syrian people," he said in a statement.

In the meantime, at least 248 people died in clashes in Syria on Thursday, according to the Human Rights Observatory. According to the organization, 109 civilians, 93 soldiers and 46 extremists and deserters lost their lives.

It was reported last night that the Syrian rebels had taken over control of all border crossings with Iraq and Turkey. AFP has reported that one more Syrian general fled to Turkey.

“West seeks green light for military intervention”

An influential Chinese party daily has accused the West of seeking the green light for a military intervention in Syria after Beijing and Moscow vetoed the adoption of the resolution on Syria in the UN Security Council on Thursday.

“Frankly speaking, Western countries attempted to push the UN to vote for the sanction resolution in order to get the green light for their military intervention,'' said the People's Daily, the Communist party paper, AFP has reported.

The daily's comments echoed those of Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who said the resolution aimed to “open the path to the pressure of sanctions and further to external military involvement in Syrian domestic affairs.''