UN mulls new Syria resolution
US, France present UN Security Council with new resolution focusing on Damascus' violence, humanitarian crisis. UN diplomats: Russia, China likely to vote with council
The United States and France have drafted an outline for a new UN Security Council resolution denouncing the ongoing bloodshed in Syria, Al-Arabiya reported Wednesday.
The resolution demands access for humanitarian aid workers in besieged Syrian towns and an immediate end to all violence.
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French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that the council was working on a third resolution, this time focusing on the escalating humanitarian crisis caused by Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown against protesters.
According to the report, the draft demands "an immediate halt to all forms of violence in Syria." It also condemns "the continued widespread, systematic, and gross violations of human rights in the country."
The draft also calls on the Syrian government "to cease all violence and protect its population, release all detainees and withdraw military forces from cities and towns nationwide."
The latest push for action on Syria by the 15-nation council follows two vetoes on previous resolutions by Russia and China.
The UN fears Assad's regime is committing crimes against humanity, as the Human Rights Commission believes over 7,500 people have been killed since the 11-month uprising has begun.
The US-France draft further expresses the nations' full support of the Arab League’s decision to facilitate a peaceful political transition in Damascus.
UN diplomats have hinted that Russia would be willing to support a resolution that focuses exclusively on the humanitarian crisis without any mention of the political situation. Arab and Western diplomats, however, told the Saudi website that "such a resolution would be unacceptable."
The diplomats added that China has also indicated that it may not keep vetoing Syria resolutions in the UN Security Council.
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