A German envoy has accused Russia of preventing the United Nations Security Council from taking decisive action in response to the Syrian government’s deadly crackdown on protesters.
Peter Wittig, Germany's UN ambassador, said Russia has taken what he called a “very deliberate decision” to back the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and block the Security Council from approving a resolution threatening “targeted measures” against the Syrian leadership.
The comments from the German envoy, who was speaking on a visit to Washington, were reported after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia and China would continue to prevent the Security Council from approving any foreign military intervention in the Syrian crisis.
He also said Russia would offer no explanation for a suspected Russian arms delivery to the Syrian regime last week.
The UN says an estimated 5,400 people have been killed in Syria since protests against the regime erupted in March.
compiled from agency reports
Peter Wittig, Germany's UN ambassador, said Russia has taken what he called a “very deliberate decision” to back the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and block the Security Council from approving a resolution threatening “targeted measures” against the Syrian leadership.
The comments from the German envoy, who was speaking on a visit to Washington, were reported after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia and China would continue to prevent the Security Council from approving any foreign military intervention in the Syrian crisis.
He also said Russia would offer no explanation for a suspected Russian arms delivery to the Syrian regime last week.
The UN says an estimated 5,400 people have been killed in Syria since protests against the regime erupted in March.
compiled from agency reports
