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October 5, 2011

Russia, China Veto Security Council Measure on Syria Crackdown 
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At the United Nations, Russia and China have vetoed a U.S.- and
European-backed Security Council resolution condemning Syria’s ongoing
crackdown on opposition protesters. The rare double-veto follows months
of negotiations on a measure that would hold the regime of Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad accountable for violence that has left an
estimated 3,000 people dead. The vetoed draft had called on Syria to
"cease the use of force against civilians,” release political
prisoners and grant other "fundamental freedoms." The U.S. ambassador to
the United Nations, Susan Rice, condemned the veto.

Susan Rice: "The United States is outraged that this council has utterly
failed to address an urgent moral challenge and a growing threat to
regional peace and security. Several members have sought for weeks to
weaken and strip bare any text that would have defended the lives of
innocent civilians from Assad's brutality. Today two members have vetoed
a vastly watered down text that doesn't even mention sanctions."



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