UN resolution would condemn Syria rights abuses

A draft UN resolution initiated by Saudi Arabia would strongly condemn ‘‘widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights’’ by the Syrian government and ‘‘any’’ abuses by anti-government armed groups.

Saudi Arabia, which backs rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad, has strongly criticized the Security Council’s failure to resolve Syria’s civil war and other conflicts, citing this as one reason for rejecting a seat on the UN’s most powerful body earlier this month. (AP)