National News
Government condemns veto on Syria
12:39pm Monday 6th February 2012
Downing Street has condemned as "incomprehensible and inexcusable" the decision of China and Russia to veto a United Nations resolution demanding an end to bloodshed in Syria.
The failure of the resolution in a Security Council vote on Saturday was followed by an upsurge of violence in Syria, with troops loyal to Bashar Assad bombarding rebel strongholds in the city of Homs and around the country.
Foreign Secretary William Hague will make a statement to MPs later amid widespread criticism of Russia and China for vetoing the latest text in New York.
Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman told reporters: "Clearly there is a tragedy unfolding in that country. Russia and China are protecting a regime which is killing thousands of people.
"We find their position both incomprehensible and inexcusable. By supporting that regime, they are strengthening it and allowing it to continue with that violence."
Downing Street stressed that Russia and China were alone on the 15-member Security Council in failing to vote for the resolution, which was backed by the Arab League.
Mr Cameron's spokesman said there were still ways to make progress through the UN - such as raising Syria in the General Assembly - but indicated that the UK was now concentrating on alternative courses of action, such as sanctions by the European Union.
"We will be thinking now about how we can work with other countries, both internationally and in the region, to support the Arab League plan," said the spokesman. The objective here is to look at how we can bring countries together and apply pressure internationally on the Assad regime."
Mr Hague indicated on Sunday that the UK would seriously consider severing diplomatic ties with Damascus if the Arab League followed Tunisia in expelling Syrian ambassadors. But he insisted that military action was not being considered.
Mr Hague conceded that the country appeared to be slipping towards all-out civil war between anti-regime groups and the security forces controlled by Assad.