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UN Security Council Rejects Arms Embargo on South Sudan

by Associated Press

   UNITED NATIONS --

   The U.N. Security Council has defeated a U.S.-sponsored resolution that
   would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and three key figures
   in the conflict in the world's newest nation.

   Seven council members voted Friday in favor of the resolution and eight
   abstained. To be adopted by the U.N.'s most powerful body a resolution
   needs nine "yes" votes and no veto by a permanent member.

   U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council after the vote that the
   resolution "would not have been a panacea ... but the arms embargo
   would have had some significant effects" in stemming the flow of
   weapons.

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly called for an arms
   embargo, warning that "If no action is taken, South Sudan will be on a
   trajectory towards mass atrocities."