Russia, China oppose anti-Syria draft

The UNSC logo. The West and Arab League are pushing for an anti-Syria UNSC draft resolution

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/224211.html

Russia and China have rejected a potential UN Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution against Syria proposed by undemocratic Arab states and backed by Western powers.

The top officials of the Arab League (AL) gathered at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, swaying the world body to force Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign and hand over the power to a deputy, who is then supposed to form a national unity government 'with the opposition within two months.'

The United States, the UK, and France have supported the AL plan.

Russia and China, however, have expressed opposition to the draft resolution based on their concerns that it could eventually lead to military action against Syria similar to the NATO attacks on Libya in March 2011.

Both countries have for the second time called for dialog to defuse the months-long unrest in the Middle Eastern nation.

Earlier, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani and AL Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby briefed the council on the Arab initiative, defending the draft resolution.

Meanwhile, the US, Britain, and France held a closed-door meeting on the Syrian situation in New York.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of Assad.

Hundreds of people, including many members of the Syrian security forces, have been killed during the violence.

Damascus says over 2,000 member of the security forces have been killed since the unrest hit the country.

It says 'outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups' are responsible for the unrest, which, it says, is being orchestrated from abroad.

The West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing protesters.