Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a new UN Security Council resolution 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 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 resolution had sought non-military sanctions against Assad’s regime.
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