Russia, China veto UN Security Council resolution on Syria

It was the third time in nine months that Russia and China have used their powers as permanent members of the 15-nation council to block resolutions on Syria. There were 11 votes in favor, Russia and China’s votes against and two abstentions.
“The United Kingdom is appalled at the veto of Russia and China,” said Britain’s UN envoy Mark Lyall Grant, whose country took the lead in writing up the resolution.
The text, backed by the United States, France, Germany and Portugal, calls for non-military sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter if Assad does not withdraw heavy weapons from Syrian cities in 10 days.
Russia had said it could not accept sanctions.
Meanwhile, clashes in and around Syria’s capital Damascus intensified on Wednesday, a day after the Syrian opposition managed           to stage a blast that killed top Syrian            officials.
The thundering sound of gunshots and mortar shells echoed in several neighbourhoods overnight and throughout yesterday amid media reports claiming that hundreds of armed men have been killed over the past 24 hours. The state-run SANA news agency said dozens of armed men have surrendered themselves and laid down their weapons in a number of neighborhoods.
The capital has been witnessing since Sunday a surge in clashes between the government troops and armed rebels, who are expressing unwavering support to bring down the capital.
The intensity of clashes ramped up Wednesday after a blast tore through a security compound hosting a meeting of top officials and cronies to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian Defence Minister Dawood Rajha and his deputy Assef Shawkat were killed in the bombing, and Assistant Vice President Hassan Turkmani died later of wounds sustained in the blast. Shawkat is also the president’s brother-in-law. The broad-based rebel leadership has claimed responsibility for the attack and pledged more to come. The attack dealt a strong blow to the Syrian leadership, which pledged to retaliate hard.
The streets of Damascus were deserted of passersby and shops were also closed, as people were now cowering in their homes, fearing the consequences of what the rebels have named as “the great battle of Damascus.”
The opposition group, Local Co-ordination Committees, reported the Syrian troops’ shelling on a number of Syrian areas, adding that more than 13 people had been killed yesterday. They also posted online videos picturing the victims of clashes, some of whom were children. Head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria Maj-Gen Robert Mood said yesterday that Syria is not on track of peace given the intensity of violence over the past days.
He also said that there is no hope of military showdown, saying that without dialogue and concessions from both the government and the opposition, the coming days will bring more sufferings. — AFP