UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The international community sent a strong signal to Syria that it can move against a regime that's lost its legitimacy, the Italian foreign minister said.
The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution with 137 votes in favor, 12 against and 17 abstentions to censure Damascus for the ongoing bloodshed in the country.
Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said he welcomed the international consensus but stressed it must be followed up by concrete actions.
"The international community has proven that it is possible to mobilize against a regime that has lost all credibility and legitimacy," he said in a statement.
The resolution condemns Syria's "widespread and systematic violations of human rights" and calls on the regime to immediate halt "attacks against civilians."
The U.N. Security Council hasn't been able to get around vetoes from China and Russia. Both voted against the General Assembly resolution.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the resolution gives firm support to an Arab League plan for a Syrian-led political transition.
"The only question is how many more women, men and children, from demonstrators on Syria's streets to those taking shelter in homes and hospitals, will suffer or be killed by Assad before that transition begins," she said in a statement.
Syria's envoy to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, described the General Assembly resolution as "biased."
