Syrian veto 'clever,' Russian analyst says

MOSCOW, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Russian veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution against Syria was a "clever move" meant to protect the Kremlin's interests, an analyst said.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said she was "disgusted" by a decision by China and Russia, two veto-wielding members of the Security Council, to vote down a resolution against Syria.

Despite ongoing bloodshed in Syria and an increased military assault on the city of Homs, the international community hasn't been able to circumvent objections at the Security Council.

Russian said it viewed the latest draft resolution as one-sided, adding it was wary of backing any measure that might trigger an international military intervention like last year's war in Libya.

Vladimir Bartenev, a global affairs analyst at Moscow State University, told Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti the Russian objection was a show of savvy diplomacy.

"That's a perfectly clever move, we're protecting our own interests," he was quoted as saying.

Russia counts Syria as one of largest military equipment customers.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Tuesday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus. Lavrov was quoted by the official Syrian Arab News Agency as saying a non-violent solution was needed to resolve the crisis in Syria.

"We believe in the necessity of continuing the efforts aiming at finding a solution and settlement to the Syrian crisis," he said.