Anger after Russia, China veto action

UNs Syria resolution: 13 members, including India, backed move

 Western and Arab countries responded with outrage on Sunday after Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.

The US ambassador to the UN said she was “disgusted” by the vote, which came a day after activists say Syrian forces bombarded the city of Homs, killing several in the worst night of bloodshed of the 11-month uprising. “Any further bloodshed that flows will be on their hands,” Susan Rice said.

All 13 other members of the Security Council voted to back the resolution, which would have “fully supported” an Arab League plan under which Assad should cede powers to a deputy, withdraw troops from towns and begin a transition to democracy. The Syrian National Council, which represents major opposition groups, said it holds Moscow and Beijing “responsible for the escalating acts of killing and genocide; it considers this an irresponsible step that is tantamount to a license to kill with impunity.”

The Security Council’s sole Arab member, Morocco, voiced “great regret and disappointment” at the veto. Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki said the Arabs had no intention of abandoning their plan.

Syrian UN envoy Bashar Ja’afari criticised the resolution and its sponsors, which included Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab states, saying nations “that prevent women from attending a soccer match” had no right to preach democracy to Syria. He denied Syrian forces killed hundreds of civilians in Homs, saying “no sensible person” would launch such an attack the night before the Security Council was set to discuss his country.

In Syria on Sunday state television showed live footage of Assad praying with Sunni Muslim clerics and listening to the recitation of the Koran in a Damascus mosque.
Residents of Homs’s battered Baba Amro district, speaking by telephone, denounced the Russian-Chinese veto, some chanting, “Death, rather than disgrace.”

One resident said: “Now we will show Assad. We’re coming, Damascus. Starting today we will show Assad what an armed gang is.” Assad has called his opponents “armed gangs” and “terrorists” steered from abroad.
Reuters