China and Russia have vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning the brutal force used by Syrian authorities in cracking down on opposition protestors. Drafted by France in co-operation with the UK, Germany and Portugal, the text had already been amended three times to accommodate Chinese and Russian concerns.
China argued that the resolution would interfere with Syria's domestic affairs whilst Russia, a long-time ally of Syria, opposed the resolution on the grounds that it could be used to justify military action in the country, such as occurred in Libya after Security Council Resolution 1973. Non-permanent Council members India, South Africa, Brazil and Lebanon abstained.
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the death toll in Syria has now climbed to 2,900. Click here to read more
