Russia, China block U.N. action on Syria

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UNITED NATIONS, July 19 (UPI) -- Russia and China Thursday blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have threatened sanctions on Syria in light of the escalating violence there.

Eleven of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution while Pakistan and South Africa abstained. A veto by either Russia or China -- both permanent members of the council -- would scuttle any resolution.

"The decision by a very small minority of the Security Council to veto this action is deplorable and regrettable," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. "We need to come together behind a simple proposition that the Syrian president is waging a brutal, murderous campaign against his own people and that we need to come together to do everything we can to bring about a future in Syria that does not include Bashar Assad.

"Those who vetoed the measure -- those nations that vetoed the measure are on the wrong side of history. They're on the wrong side of the Syrian people. They're on the wrong side of all of those who hope for peace and stability in the region, and for democratization in the region," Carney said, adding the failed resolution puts the U.N. mission to Syria in jeopardy.

"The United States does not support extending a mission where you send unarmed U.N. employees into Syria to try to observe the brutality of the Assad regime when there is nothing -- there is no mechanism within the resolution to create consequences for the regime for failing to live up to its obligations and its commitments under the Annan plan," Carney said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Kofi Annan, joint special envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States for the Syrian crisis, had repeatedly expressed hope the council would reach an agreement on a plan to end the bloodshed, the United Nations said in a statement.

The United Nations says more than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the uprising against Assad began 16 months ago.