A United Nations resolution condemning Syria’s violent repression of anti-government demonstrators was vetoed on Saturday by Russia and China. The resolution would effectively nullify efforts to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The U.S. and its European partners were set to rally behind an Arab League plan that would require Assad to transfer power and step aside for a democratically elected unity government.
After the vote, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan E. Rice said, “The United States is disgusted. A couple of members of this council remain steadfast in their willingness to sell out the Syrian people and shield a craven tyrant.” In retaliation, Russia’s U.N. envoy, Vitaly I. Churkin, reported that the U.S. and its partners endorsed a strategy that aimed at “regime change” that would fuel “armed methods of struggle.” Russian officials will reportedly travel to Damascus on Tuesday, where they will meet President Assad and attempt to push a competing plan to assemble the Syrian government and the opposition together for direct discussions.
