Russia resists UN campaign to stop Syria ‘killing machine’

UNITED NATIONS: Western powers and the Arab League on Tuesday demanded immediate United Nations (UN) action to stop Syrian President Bashar al-assad’s “killing machine,” but Russia refused to give its support.

The wrangling at the New York City- based organization came as fighting sharply escalated between Assad’s security forces and rebels, with activists saying that more than 5,400 people have died in the 10month-old uprising.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, backed by her French and British counterparts as well as Qatar’s prime minister, led the charge for a tough UN resolution that would call on Assad to end the bloodshed and hand over power.

“We all know that change is coming to Syria. Despite its ruthless tactics, the Assad regime’s reign of terror will end,” Clinton told the UN Security Council.

“The question for us is: how many more innocent civilians will die before this country is able to move forward?” she asked.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-thani, speaking on behalf of the Arab League, said that Assad’s regime had “failed to make any sincere effort” to end the crisis and believed that the only solution was “to kill its own people.”

“Bloodshed continues and the killing machine is still at work,” he added.

But Russia, a longstanding ally of Assad and one of the regime’s top suppliers of weapons, declared that the world body did not have the authority to impose such a resolution. China voiced support for Russia’s position.

Moscow’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, argued that Syria should “be able to decide for itself” and said that the Council “cannot impose the parameters for an internal settlement. It simply does not have the mandate to do so.”

However, the tone of the debate was measured and Churkin said that the latest version of the resolution “gives rise for hope.”

“We hope that the Council will come to consensus on the Syrian issue, as is not only possible but also necessary,” he added.

Speaking to reporters later, he also hinted at a compromise, saying, “I think that we can produce a text which would be useful in a way which would help the Arab League to play its key role.”

France also held out the possibility of a successful UN resolution and said that diplomats would pursue talks.

“From what I’ve heard, I take away that this is not completely impossible and that there is a chance of bringing the viewpoints together,” French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.

The key sticking point appeared to be the Arab League call for Assad’s speedy departure.

“Regime change is not our profession,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a trip to Australia.

US officials said that Clinton tried unsuccessfully for two days to speak to Lavrov. She dismissed suggestions that Lavrov snubbed her, saying that it was difficult to reach him in distant Australia.

The opposition Syrian National Council, meanwhile, deplored the international community’s lack of “swift action” to protect civilians “by all necessary means,” in a statement on Facebook.