UN to vote on resolution denouncing Syrian violence

Growing unrest has led to increased vioence in the past few days, with more than 200 people killed in Syria last weekend New York - Arabstoday Following a Security Council briefing Wednesday on the situation in Syria, France, Germany, Portugal and Britain introduced a revised draft resolution, strongly condemning the violenc e being perpetrated by the Syrian government.
UK representative to the United Nations, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, called the situation “very serious” and said it appeared to be deteriorating.  The draft resolution calls the violence a “systematic violation of Human Rights” and demands that Syrian authorities immediately lift the siege on affected Syrian towns. 
The resolution calls on all states to “exercise vigilance” and “prevent the supply of arms to Syria,” but does not call for military action or sanctions.
The EU Members will discuss the new text with other Security Council Members on Thursday morning.  The four EU Members said they hope to get the “overwhelming support” of the rest of the Council. 
China and Russia, both of whom have veto powers, have said that they opposed the resolution, and that they fear condemning Syria could lead to military intervention like NATO’s current campaign in Libya.  It was not clear if they would veto the resolution or abstain from voting.
India, Brazil and South Africa have also expressed concerns over the resolution.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, indicated in a statement Wednesday that the US would vote to pass the resolution.  She offered harsh words to countries that were against the resolution, calling their motives “disingenuous,” saying that their arguments “strained credulity, not to mention morality.”
The resolution will be taken to vote in the next few days.