NEW YORK - A second veto by Russia and China of a UN Security Council resolution on Syria has given President Bashar al-Assad cover to kill even more opposition protesters, Western states and experts said.
Russia has faced particular criticism for blocking UN action on the crisis in which thousands have died, particularly after the latest mass killings reported in the Syrian city of Homs.
"Any further blood that flows will be on their hands," said US ambassador Susan Rice in the council chamber after Russia and China used their veto powers as permanent members for the second time in four months.
Other Arab and European governments backing the resolution also expressed outrage at the block. Those behind the resolution said it was intended to give strong backing to Arab League efforts to find a political solution to the Assad crackdown. The Arab League wants Assad to hand over powers to a deputy so elections can be held.
Russia called the resolution "unbalanced". Its UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, said that since the start of negotiations last year, Western nations had only been interested in "regime change".
Ambassadors from Britain, France, Germany and other countries all stressed how there were no mention of calls for Assad to go in the resolution, no arms embargo while the draft specifically said that no "military intervention" was being condoned.
"The Russian government is not only unapologetically arming a government that is killing its own people, but also providing it with diplomatic cover," said Philippe Bolopion, UN specialist for Human Rights Watch.
Outrage over Russia, China UN veto on Syria
NEW YORK - A second veto by Russia and China of a UN Security Council resolution on Syria has given President Bashar al-Assad cover to kill even more opposition protesters, Western states and experts said.
Russia has faced particular criticism for blocking UN action on the crisis in which thousands have died, particularly after the latest mass killings reported in the Syrian city of Homs.
"Any further blood that flows will be on their hands," said US ambassador Susan Rice in the council chamber after Russia and China used their veto powers as permanent members for the second time in four months.
Other Arab and European governments backing the resolution also expressed outrage at the block. Those behind the resolution said it was intended to give strong backing to Arab League efforts to find a political solution to the Assad crackdown. The Arab League wants Assad to hand over powers to a deputy so elections can be held.
Russia called the resolution "unbalanced". Its UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, said that since the start of negotiations last year, Western nations had only been interested in "regime change".
Ambassadors from Britain, France, Germany and other countries all stressed how there were no mention of calls for Assad to go in the resolution, no arms embargo while the draft specifically said that no "military intervention" was being condoned.
"The Russian government is not only unapologetically arming a government that is killing its own people, but also providing it with diplomatic cover," said Philippe Bolopion, UN specialist for Human Rights Watch.
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