This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-16825761
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria: UN Security Council debates response to violence | Syria: UN Security Council debates response to violence |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The United Nations Security Council is meeting to debate whether to adopt a draft resolution on Syria. | The United Nations Security Council is meeting to debate whether to adopt a draft resolution on Syria. |
| The council is deciding whether to adopt an Arab League plan calling for an end to violence and for President Bashar al-Assad to stand down. | The council is deciding whether to adopt an Arab League plan calling for an end to violence and for President Bashar al-Assad to stand down. |
| Qatar's prime minister urged council members to take action against what he called Mr Assad's "killing machine." | Qatar's prime minister urged council members to take action against what he called Mr Assad's "killing machine." |
| Russia says the plan amounts to regime change and could lead to civil war - it is expected to veto the resolution. | Russia says the plan amounts to regime change and could lead to civil war - it is expected to veto the resolution. |
| The UN estimates more than 5,400 people have been killed since the unrest began last March. The violence appears to be intensifying - more than 100 people were reported to have been killed across the country on Monday and at least 37 people on Tuesday, say rights groups. | The UN estimates more than 5,400 people have been killed since the unrest began last March. The violence appears to be intensifying - more than 100 people were reported to have been killed across the country on Monday and at least 37 people on Tuesday, say rights groups. |
| The draft resolution strongly condemns human rights abuses by the Syrian government and calls on all sides to cease the use of violence. | The draft resolution strongly condemns human rights abuses by the Syrian government and calls on all sides to cease the use of violence. |
| It calls on countries to stop the flow of arms to Syria, but does not impose an arms embargo. | It calls on countries to stop the flow of arms to Syria, but does not impose an arms embargo. |
| Speaking at the start of the UN debate, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said all previous initiatives had failed "because the Syrian government failed to make any sincere effort to co-operate with us and the only solution available to it was to kill its own people". | Speaking at the start of the UN debate, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said all previous initiatives had failed "because the Syrian government failed to make any sincere effort to co-operate with us and the only solution available to it was to kill its own people". |
| "Bloodshed continued and the killing machine is still at work," he said, urging members to act but stressing that it was for the Syrian people to decide whether they wanted a change in leadership. | |
| 'Deserves a chance' | 'Deserves a chance' |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the situation in Syria risked spinning out of control, but that Mr Assad's "reign of terror" would end. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the situation in Syria risked spinning out of control, but that Mr Assad's "reign of terror" would end. |
| She dismissed concerns that Syria could follow the same pattern as Libya and result in military intervention. | She dismissed concerns that Syria could follow the same pattern as Libya and result in military intervention. |
| The Arab League's plan, under which Mr Assad would hand over power to his deputy, represents "the best effects and efforts of Syria's neighbours to chart a way forward and deserves a chance to work", Mrs Clinton said. | The Arab League's plan, under which Mr Assad would hand over power to his deputy, represents "the best effects and efforts of Syria's neighbours to chart a way forward and deserves a chance to work", Mrs Clinton said. |
| "The alternative - spurning the Arab League, abandoning the Syrian people, emboldening the dictator - would compound this tragedy and would mark a failure of our shared responsibility and shake the credibility of the United Nations Security Council," she said. | "The alternative - spurning the Arab League, abandoning the Syrian people, emboldening the dictator - would compound this tragedy and would mark a failure of our shared responsibility and shake the credibility of the United Nations Security Council," she said. |
| Arab League Secretary-General Nabil el-Arabi said the plan aimed to avoid foreign military intervention. | |
| 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. |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the league's plan was the only "credible and viable" way to stop the "horrifying violence" in Syria, and would mark the start of an inclusive political process. | |
| France called for an end to the "scandalous silence" of the UN, and said it must "assume its responsibilities toward a suffering people". | |
| But Syria's representative at the UN, Bashar Jaafari, rejected the proposals, saying Syria was protecting its security and would "stand firm in confronting its enemies". | But Syria's representative at the UN, Bashar Jaafari, rejected the proposals, saying Syria was protecting its security and would "stand firm in confronting its enemies". |
| There were further reports of violence on Tuesday evening, with anti-government activists saying troops had again attacked suburbs in the capital, Damascus. | |
| The Local Co-Ordination Committee (LCC) said 37 people had been killed on Tuesday, including two children and five soldiers who had defected from the army. | |
| There are also reports of heavy explosions near the hill town of Rankous, just to the north of Damascus. Government forces are said to have arrested dozens of young men. |