Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria sanctions

United Nations, March 1 (IANS) Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution aimed at imposing sanctions against the Syrian regime over the use of chemical weapons against civilians in the conflict ravaging the country.

The United States, France and the United Kingdom on Tuesday voted in favor of the resolution, as well as six other non-permanent council members, including Italy, Japan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine and Uruguay, Efe news agency reported.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan abstained, while Bolivia, Russia and China voted against.

This is the first occasion for Russia to exercise a veto since Donald Trump arrived at the Oval Office on January 20.

The initiative was being negotiated since it was initially drafted by France and the Britain in December, and found support from the US later on.

Sanctions were directed against 11 representatives of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as 10 institutions, for having links with chemical attacks on civilians in Syria, which were confirmed by a special UN research team.

Previously, Russia had already announced that it would veto the proposal, although China's stance was not clear.

This is the seventh time in the last five years that Russia has vetoed a Security Council resolution aimed at condemning the Syrian regime, after armed conflict broke out in the Arab country in 2011.

(This story has not been edited by Social News XYZ staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)