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| Russia 'to block' Syria vote at UN Security Council | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Russia has said it will block a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for a transfer of power in Syria because it "leaves open the possibility of intervention". | |
| Foreign ministers from the UK, the US and France are going to New York to lobby for the Arab League's draft text. | |
| France says 10 of the 15 countries on the Security Council now support the text calling for President Bashar al-Assad to hand power to a deputy. | |
| Fighting in Syria continues. | |
| Government troops on Monday bombarded the restive city of Homs. | |
| Earlier, reports said the Syrian army had regained control of some Damascus suburbs recently held by rebel forces. | Earlier, reports said the Syrian army had regained control of some Damascus suburbs recently held by rebel forces. |
| Qatari backing | Qatari backing |
| If the Arab League observers had inhibited Syrian government forces from attacking residential areas, any such constraints now seem to be thrown to the winds. | If the Arab League observers had inhibited Syrian government forces from attacking residential areas, any such constraints now seem to be thrown to the winds. |
| The government actions reported by activists in the eastern suburbs of Damascus and in Rankous, just to the north of the capital, reinforce the sharp escalation cited by the league as grounds for suspending its observer mission. | The government actions reported by activists in the eastern suburbs of Damascus and in Rankous, just to the north of the capital, reinforce the sharp escalation cited by the league as grounds for suspending its observer mission. |
| The upsurge coincided with the renewal of the observers' mandate for a second month, causing the Syrian government to express surprise and regret when it was called off. | The upsurge coincided with the renewal of the observers' mandate for a second month, causing the Syrian government to express surprise and regret when it was called off. |
| It blames the escalation on "armed terrorist groups" encouraged by some Arab states trying to increase the pressure for action by the UN Security Council. | It blames the escalation on "armed terrorist groups" encouraged by some Arab states trying to increase the pressure for action by the UN Security Council. |
| But the league blamed the regime for pursuing the "security option" and breaking commitments it made to halt violence. That is the line it will put to the Security Council on Tuesday. | But the league blamed the regime for pursuing the "security option" and breaking commitments it made to halt violence. That is the line it will put to the Security Council on Tuesday. |
| Moscow, which has maintained its ties to Damascus, has so far resisted moves for a UN resolution condemning the violence in Syria. Russia has a naval base in the country and supplies arms to Syria. | |
| "The current Western draft... certainly cannot be supported by us," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the Interfax news agency. | "The current Western draft... certainly cannot be supported by us," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the Interfax news agency. |
| Mr Gatilov said the draft was "not balanced" and "leaves open the possibility of intervention in Syrian affairs". | Mr Gatilov said the draft was "not balanced" and "leaves open the possibility of intervention in Syrian affairs". |
| At least nine members of the Security Council must lend their backing in order for a resolution to be put to a vote. However, Russia - as one of the five permanent council members - can veto any proposed resolution. | |
| The UK has urged Moscow to reconsider its opposition. | The UK has urged Moscow to reconsider its opposition. |
| "Russia can no longer explain blocking the UN and providing cover for the regime's brutal repression," said a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron. | "Russia can no longer explain blocking the UN and providing cover for the regime's brutal repression," said a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron. |
| Russia offered to mediate talks between the Syrian government and the opposition - a suggestion the opposition rejected out of hand. | Russia offered to mediate talks between the Syrian government and the opposition - a suggestion the opposition rejected out of hand. |
| The Syrian government has rejected the Arab League plan, which would see Mr Assad's deputy forming a national unity government within two months. | |
| The prime minister of Qatar and the secretary-general of the Arab League are also going to New York to seek support for the draft text. Qatar heads the League's committee dealing with the Syrian crisis and has previously called for Arab countries to send troops into Syria. | |
| On Saturday, the Arab League announced it was suspending its month-old monitoring mission in Syria because of an upsurge of violence. | On Saturday, the Arab League announced it was suspending its month-old monitoring mission in Syria because of an upsurge of violence. |
| Tank shells | Tank shells |
| Reports from Damascus say residents in some areas heard the sound of bombing in the early hours of the morning. | Reports from Damascus say residents in some areas heard the sound of bombing in the early hours of the morning. |
| Heavy fighting has taken place in the eastern suburbs for several days. | Heavy fighting has taken place in the eastern suburbs for several days. |
| Over the weekend, troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an offensive targeting several areas under the control of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). | Over the weekend, troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an offensive targeting several areas under the control of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). |
| They retook control of the suburb of Ghouta, with activists saying the FSA had beaten a "tactical" retreat. | They retook control of the suburb of Ghouta, with activists saying the FSA had beaten a "tactical" retreat. |
| Activists say at least 225 tank shells were fired at the suburbs on Monday. | Activists say at least 225 tank shells were fired at the suburbs on Monday. |
| The BBC and other international media are severely restricted inside Syria. None of the reports have been independently confirmed. | The BBC and other international media are severely restricted inside Syria. None of the reports have been independently confirmed. |
| On Monday, the Syrian army held funerals for 22 of its members killed in the previous 24 hours. The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says on average 20 members of the security forces are being killed each day. | On Monday, the Syrian army held funerals for 22 of its members killed in the previous 24 hours. The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says on average 20 members of the security forces are being killed each day. |
| Reports have emerged suggesting security forces may have killed senior army defector Lt-Col Hussein Harmoush, one of the first military officers to publicly declare his opposition to Mr Assad last year. | Reports have emerged suggesting security forces may have killed senior army defector Lt-Col Hussein Harmoush, one of the first military officers to publicly declare his opposition to Mr Assad last year. |
| However, the Free Syrian Army, many of whose members are based in Turkey, said they could not confirm the death. | However, the Free Syrian Army, many of whose members are based in Turkey, said they could not confirm the death. |