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| Syria crisis: Russia circulates surprise UN resolution | Syria crisis: Russia circulates surprise UN resolution |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russia has circulated a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the crisis in Syria, in a move that surprised the Western nations. | Russia has circulated a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the crisis in Syria, in a move that surprised the Western nations. |
| The draft condemns the violence by both Syria's government and the opposition, but does not mention sanctions. | The draft condemns the violence by both Syria's government and the opposition, but does not mention sanctions. |
| Western nations said the proposal was not tough enough but that they were prepared to work on the document. | |
| The West has been pushing the council to act on Syria for months, but Russia - and China - vetoed such proposals. | The West has been pushing the council to act on Syria for months, but Russia - and China - vetoed such proposals. |
| In the latest violence in Syria, 27 security forces members were reportedly killed by army deserters. | In the latest violence in Syria, 27 security forces members were reportedly killed by army deserters. |
| The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the deaths occurred in the southern province of Deraa. | The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the deaths occurred in the southern province of Deraa. |
| International journalists face severe restrictions on their movements in Syria, and it is hard to verify reports. | International journalists face severe restrictions on their movements in Syria, and it is hard to verify reports. |
| The UN believes more than 5,000 people have died in seven months of unrest, which the government of President Bashar al-Assad blames on armed gangs. | The UN believes more than 5,000 people have died in seven months of unrest, which the government of President Bashar al-Assad blames on armed gangs. |
| In a recent interview with the US network ABC, he said he had given no orders for violence to be used against protesters. | |
| Clinton hopes | Clinton hopes |
| Russia circulated the draft resolution among the other 14 UN Security Council members on Thursday. | Russia circulated the draft resolution among the other 14 UN Security Council members on Thursday. |
| Western diplomats say they are willing to negotiate the draft, but they want changes: such as much stronger language on human rights abuses, and endorsement of Arab League sanctions. | |
| Crucially they say the resolution should spell out that Damascus is primarily responsible for the violence, and not assign equal blame the government and the opposition. | |
| Negotiations will be tough, but there is more hope now than there was even a day ago that some kind of resolution might be agreed. | |
| Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the document urged an end to the violence, but did not mention any sanctions. | Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the document urged an end to the violence, but did not mention any sanctions. |
| "The reaction of colleagues in the Security Council was very constructive," he said. | |
| "They made a number of comments as to the text... and we said that we were looking forward to working with them, in order to adopt a text, a resolution of the security council, which will really bring about an end to violence and crisis in Syria." | |
| The draft demands that "all parties" in Syria stop violence. | The draft demands that "all parties" in Syria stop violence. |
| But it also includes a new reference to "disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities", in what is seen by some analysts as toughening of Moscow's position towards Damascus. | But it also includes a new reference to "disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities", in what is seen by some analysts as toughening of Moscow's position towards Damascus. |
| The document also "urges the Syrian government to put an end to suppression of those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association". | The document also "urges the Syrian government to put an end to suppression of those exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association". |
| Western diplomats said the current draft did not fully reflect the gravity of the human rights situation in Syria, but added that they would negotiate on the text. | Western diplomats said the current draft did not fully reflect the gravity of the human rights situation in Syria, but added that they would negotiate on the text. |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that "there are some issues in it that we would not be able to support". | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that "there are some issues in it that we would not be able to support". |
| "There's unfortunately a seeming parity between the government and peaceful protesters and then other Syrians who are trying to defend themselves, but we are going to study the draft carefully." | "There's unfortunately a seeming parity between the government and peaceful protesters and then other Syrians who are trying to defend themselves, but we are going to study the draft carefully." |
| Mrs Clinton added: "Hopefully we can work with the Russians." | |
| The US and its European allies insist that the government in Damascus must bear primary responsibility for the violence. | The US and its European allies insist that the government in Damascus must bear primary responsibility for the violence. |
| Russia accuses the West of trying to use the UN to force regime change in Syria. | Russia accuses the West of trying to use the UN to force regime change in Syria. |
| In October, Russia and China vetoed European draft resolution that contained a threat of sanctions. | In October, Russia and China vetoed European draft resolution that contained a threat of sanctions. |