U.N. human rights chief blocked from speaking on Syria

The U.N. human rights chief has been blocked from speaking to the Security Council about the situation in Syria after Russia, backed by China and others, protested that the U.N. body charged with ensuring international peace and security should not be discussing human rights.

At Monday’s council meeting that was to be addressed by High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Russia demanded a vote on whether the meeting should be held. The meeting was canceled.