U.S. Syria vote: 'Right side of history'

UNITED NATIONS, June 9 (UPI) -- America "will be on the right side of history" when it votes to condemn Syria's brutal crackdown on protesters, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says.

The U.N. Security Council Thursday is to begin detailed discussion of a draft resolution introduced by Britain, France, Germany and Portugal condemning Syria for using force against its own civilians.

The resolution, to be voted on "in the coming days," expresses "grave concern" and condemns the violence, but does not call for military action, an arms embargo or any other sanctions against the Syrian government.

It calls for an independent investigation of the "widespread and systematic attacks" against Syrian civilians, which it says "may amount to crimes against humanity" under international law.

But it does not refer the case to the International Criminal Court, responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases alleging genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It also denounces a "systematic violation of human rights, including the killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human-rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities," The Wall Street Journal reported.

And it condemns reported violence against Syrian security forces, asking "all sides to act with the utmost restraint."

China and Russia, both veto-wielding permanent members of the 15-member council, said they opposed the resolution, but did not say if they intended to veto the measure or abstain from the vote.

Those countries -- along with other council members, including South Africa, India and Brazil -- said they feared condemning Syria could lead to a military intervention like NATO's anti-regime campaign in Libya after a U.N. condemnation of the rule of leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The five permanent Security Council members are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The 10 current non-permanent members are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal and South Africa.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said Wednesday some countries were "disingenuously" using Libya as an "excuse" to "avoid facing real issues" and pass a resolution on Syria.

Certain countries arguments against the resolution "strained credulity, not to mention morality," she said.

"We will be on the right side of history if and when this comes to a vote, and if others are unwilling or unable to, that will be their responsibility," she said.