UN Assembly Condemns Syrian Government
By VOA
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday approved a non-bindin g resolution that condemns Syria’s government’s use of heavy weapons in the fight against rebel forces. The vote also criticizes the U.N. Security Council for failing to stem the violence in Syria.
The vote came as Syrian activists report more violence in the 17-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
Kicking off debate on the resolution, U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon said the Syria conflict is now a “proxy war” and urged major powers to end the violence. He added: “the immediate interests of the Syrian people must be paramount over any larger rivalries of influence.”
Syria allies Russia and China have previously vetoed three resolutions on Syria. Ban said the Security Council had become “paralyzed” over Syria.
The assembly action comes one day after Kofi Annan announced his resignation as U.N. – Arab League envoy to Syria, blaming what he called a lack of unity in the Security Council.
Voting against: Russia and China had objected to those provisions. Both voted “no” yesterday, along with Syria, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Myanmar, Zimbabwe and Venezuela. Great club of democracies…No Arab, no Muslim countries…shocking.