U.S., EU, Arabs compromise Syria sanctions

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A draft resolution proposed in the U.N. Security Council would back off sanctions and an arms embargo on Syria and allow Damascus to buy Russian weapons.

The deal under discussion by the United States, European and Arab nations with Moscow's envoy would scrap demands for more sanctions opening the way for a resolution asking President Bashar Assad to give up power to a vice president who would form a national unity government, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Syria is a major weapons buyer from Russian and getting Moscow on board the Arab League plan for new Syrian elections is seen as worth the compromise, diplomats said.

In October, both Russia and China vetoed a U.N. draft resolution threatening sanctions against Syria.

If the latest draft proposal is approved it would mark the first time the 15-member Security Council has unanimously adopted a binding resolution setting a two-month timetable for the end of the Assad regime.

"I don't want to predict … but today's discussion was conducted in a constructive and roll-up-your sleeves manner and that if that continues, there's a possibly that we'll reach agreement, but there's no certainty," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said after a three-hour meeting Wednesday. "We have more work to do, but I think it was a constructive session conducted in a good spirit."

The United Nations estimates 5,000 to 6,000 people have been killed in Syria since pro-democracy demonstrations began last March.