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| Syria resolution has no chance, says Russia - live updates | Syria resolution has no chance, says Russia - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 12.18pm: There are reports of a number of deaths in Wadi Barada, near the mountain resort town of Zabadani and close to the border with Lebanon. Zabadani was hailed by some as "the first liberated city" last month. | |
| The activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees, says 21 people have been killed in Wadi Barada so far today, including five from the Free Syrian army killed in clashes with the regular army, and many more injured. It has posted a video online it says is of one of the dead. | |
| It says there has been heavy random shelling, which has destroyed many houses, and "intensive and random gunfire". The LCC claims "snipers are shooting anything moving". It says the extent of the bombardment has prevented people helping the injured. | |
| Across Syria, the death toll today has reached 43 in total according to the LCC. It says 11 people have been killed in Homs, four in Dera'a, three each in in Damascus suburbs and Idlib, and one in Qamishli. | |
| The LCC's reports cannot be independently verified. | |
| 11.25am: Eleven Iranian citizens were kidnapped while on a religious pilgrimage in Syria, in the second incident of its type in a week, Syrian state television reported on Wednesday. | 11.25am: Eleven Iranian citizens were kidnapped while on a religious pilgrimage in Syria, in the second incident of its type in a week, Syrian state television reported on Wednesday. |
| "Their bus was on its way ... to Damascus when it was attacked by an armed group and 11 out of 35 passengers were abducted," the station quoted Iranian pilgrimage official Massoud Akhavan as saying. | "Their bus was on its way ... to Damascus when it was attacked by an armed group and 11 out of 35 passengers were abducted," the station quoted Iranian pilgrimage official Massoud Akhavan as saying. |
| On Thursday last week another bus carrying Iranian pilgrims was attacked by gunmen in central Syria on Thursday, Iranian media reported, and 11 passengers were abducted. | On Thursday last week another bus carrying Iranian pilgrims was attacked by gunmen in central Syria on Thursday, Iranian media reported, and 11 passengers were abducted. |
| Five Iranian technicians were also kidnapped in the central city of Homs in December, Press TV, owned by the Iranian government reported. | Five Iranian technicians were also kidnapped in the central city of Homs in December, Press TV, owned by the Iranian government reported. |
| A previously unknown group calling itself "Movement against the Shia tide in Syria" claimed it kidnapped the technicians, in a fax sent to AFP in January. | A previously unknown group calling itself "Movement against the Shia tide in Syria" claimed it kidnapped the technicians, in a fax sent to AFP in January. |
| The Assad regime has claimed the uprising is sectarian in nature. Assad is a member of the minority Alawite sect, a branch of Shia Islam, while most of the protesters are Sunni. Iran is a staunch ally of the Syrian government. | The Assad regime has claimed the uprising is sectarian in nature. Assad is a member of the minority Alawite sect, a branch of Shia Islam, while most of the protesters are Sunni. Iran is a staunch ally of the Syrian government. |
| 10.59am: In a Foreign Policy article provocatively titled "Rebels Without a Clue", Justin Vela writes that the Muslim Brotherhood's "dominance" within the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) is leading some to distance themselves from the council: | 10.59am: In a Foreign Policy article provocatively titled "Rebels Without a Clue", Justin Vela writes that the Muslim Brotherhood's "dominance" within the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) is leading some to distance themselves from the council: |
A defected Syrian soldier in the Free Officers Movement, which is aligned with the Free Syrian Army but does not take orders from it, describes the Brotherhood as "malignant." | A defected Syrian soldier in the Free Officers Movement, which is aligned with the Free Syrian Army but does not take orders from it, describes the Brotherhood as "malignant." |
| "[The Free Officers Movement] has a limited relation with the SNC because they are controlled by the Muslim Brothers," he told me. | "[The Free Officers Movement] has a limited relation with the SNC because they are controlled by the Muslim Brothers," he told me. |
| The officer, a Sunni, said that the Brotherhood's presence was particularly problematic in Syria due to the large number of minorities in the country. It would be difficult to convince minorities, especially the Alawites, that their rights would be guaranteed with the Muslim Brotherhood steering the political opposition, he says. | The officer, a Sunni, said that the Brotherhood's presence was particularly problematic in Syria due to the large number of minorities in the country. It would be difficult to convince minorities, especially the Alawites, that their rights would be guaranteed with the Muslim Brotherhood steering the political opposition, he says. |
| It is not the first time such complaints have been aired. Last month, Abdulhakim Bashar, chairman of the recently formed Kurdish National Council, told the Atlantic: "The current path is the one that Islamists are taking in the SNC, not the liberal representatives." | It is not the first time such complaints have been aired. Last month, Abdulhakim Bashar, chairman of the recently formed Kurdish National Council, told the Atlantic: "The current path is the one that Islamists are taking in the SNC, not the liberal representatives." |
| 10.44am: A number of opposition groups have issued a joint press release calling for protesters to take to the streets across Syria on Thursday and Friday to commemorate 30 years since the Hama massacre, when President Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's father, razed the city to crush a Sunni rebellion, slaughtering an estimated 20,000 of his own people. | 10.44am: A number of opposition groups have issued a joint press release calling for protesters to take to the streets across Syria on Thursday and Friday to commemorate 30 years since the Hama massacre, when President Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's father, razed the city to crush a Sunni rebellion, slaughtering an estimated 20,000 of his own people. |
| The statement, which includes the Syrian National Council, the Local Co-ordination Committees and the Hama rebels council among its signatories, says it is the first time a remembrance ceremony will be held inside Syria for the victims. It says: | The statement, which includes the Syrian National Council, the Local Co-ordination Committees and the Hama rebels council among its signatories, says it is the first time a remembrance ceremony will be held inside Syria for the victims. It says: |
| The Arab and international silence regarding [Hafez] Assad's crimes and those of his thugs has lasted 30 years and this silence is a partner in his crimes. Also this irresponsibility has allowed crimes to keep happening till our present day… this has allowed the continuation of these crimes by [Hafez] Assad's son Bashar Al- Assad and his thugs to keep committing these barbaric massacres on a daily basis and all over the country in broad daylight. | The Arab and international silence regarding [Hafez] Assad's crimes and those of his thugs has lasted 30 years and this silence is a partner in his crimes. Also this irresponsibility has allowed crimes to keep happening till our present day… this has allowed the continuation of these crimes by [Hafez] Assad's son Bashar Al- Assad and his thugs to keep committing these barbaric massacres on a daily basis and all over the country in broad daylight. |
| 10.04am: The activist group the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria claims 25 people have been killed so far today in Syria. | 10.04am: The activist group the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria claims 25 people have been killed so far today in Syria. |
| They include five members of Free Syrian Army in the Damascus suburb of Wadi Barada, according to the group's Facebook page. | They include five members of Free Syrian Army in the Damascus suburb of Wadi Barada, according to the group's Facebook page. |
| It also names four people killed in al-Gharba al-Sharqiah in the southern province of Dera'a. | It also names four people killed in al-Gharba al-Sharqiah in the southern province of Dera'a. |
| The reports cannot be independently verified. | The reports cannot be independently verified. |
| 9.55am: The British publisher Cannongate Books has denied reports that it has bought the rights to the memories of Suzanne Mubarak, wife of the deposed Egyptian leader. | 9.55am: The British publisher Cannongate Books has denied reports that it has bought the rights to the memories of Suzanne Mubarak, wife of the deposed Egyptian leader. |
| A spokeswoman said: "It's completely untrue. We don't know where they got the story from." | A spokeswoman said: "It's completely untrue. We don't know where they got the story from." |
| 9.44am: Lawrence of Arabia became an unlikely subject of row during the security council debate on Syria, AFP reports. | 9.44am: Lawrence of Arabia became an unlikely subject of row during the security council debate on Syria, AFP reports. |
| Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari said his country voted for a parliament in 1919 while "Lawrence of Arabia was wreaking havoc with the destinies and resources of the states and was trying to turn the bloc back to obscurantism." | Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari said his country voted for a parliament in 1919 while "Lawrence of Arabia was wreaking havoc with the destinies and resources of the states and was trying to turn the bloc back to obscurantism." |
| Britain's foreign secretary William Hague responded: "It is not acceptable to try to blame the situation in Syria on everyone else, from outside intervention to the Gulf states to French states to Lawrence of Arabia. This does not excuse such repression." | Britain's foreign secretary William Hague responded: "It is not acceptable to try to blame the situation in Syria on everyone else, from outside intervention to the Gulf states to French states to Lawrence of Arabia. This does not excuse such repression." |
| 8.29am: Welcome to Middle East Live. The focus remains on the diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to force Syria's president Bashar al-Assad to step down, while his troops continue to crush pockets of resistance around Damascus. | 8.29am: Welcome to Middle East Live. The focus remains on the diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to force Syria's president Bashar al-Assad to step down, while his troops continue to crush pockets of resistance around Damascus. |
| Here's a roundup of the latest developments: | Here's a roundup of the latest developments: |
| • Russia's envoy to the European Union says he sees no chance of the Arab-Western resolution passing in the security council. Interfax quoted Vladimir Chizhov as saying that the current draft resolution, does not clearly rule out military intervention, Reuters reports. | • Russia's envoy to the European Union says he sees no chance of the Arab-Western resolution passing in the security council. Interfax quoted Vladimir Chizhov as saying that the current draft resolution, does not clearly rule out military intervention, Reuters reports. |
| Chizhov said: | Chizhov said: |
| [The draft] is missing the most important thing: a clear clause ruling out the possibility that the resolution could be used to justify military intervention in Syrian affairs from outside. For this reason I see no chance this draft could be adopted. | [The draft] is missing the most important thing: a clear clause ruling out the possibility that the resolution could be used to justify military intervention in Syrian affairs from outside. For this reason I see no chance this draft could be adopted. |
| • Earlier the Russia news agency RIA Novosti claimed Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, was seeking a consensus on the Syria crisis. "We believe a consensus of the Security Council members on Syria is not only necessary but possible," Churkin told the UN Security Council meeting. | • Earlier the Russia news agency RIA Novosti claimed Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, was seeking a consensus on the Syria crisis. "We believe a consensus of the Security Council members on Syria is not only necessary but possible," Churkin told the UN Security Council meeting. |
| • But according to the Guardian, Russia declared its intention to scupper any attempt to force Assad to step down, denouncing the resolution as "meddling" that could lead to conflict and military intervention. Churkin said: | • But according to the Guardian, Russia declared its intention to scupper any attempt to force Assad to step down, denouncing the resolution as "meddling" that could lead to conflict and military intervention. Churkin said: |
| The international community should not be meddling in economic sanctions or through the use of military force. We will not stand for any sanctions resolution or using the council's tool box to foment conflict and military intervention in the future. | The international community should not be meddling in economic sanctions or through the use of military force. We will not stand for any sanctions resolution or using the council's tool box to foment conflict and military intervention in the future. |
| • Hillary Clinton sought to allay Russian fears by claiming that the international community did not want to intervene in the crisis as it had in Libya. | • Hillary Clinton sought to allay Russian fears by claiming that the international community did not want to intervene in the crisis as it had in Libya. |
| She said: | She said: |
| Now, I know that some members here may be concerned that the Security Council could be headed toward another Libya. That is a false analogy. Syria is a unique situation that requires its own approach, tailored to the specific circumstances occurring there. And that is exactly what the Arab League has proposed – a path for a political transition that would preserve Syria's unity and institutions. | Now, I know that some members here may be concerned that the Security Council could be headed toward another Libya. That is a false analogy. Syria is a unique situation that requires its own approach, tailored to the specific circumstances occurring there. And that is exactly what the Arab League has proposed – a path for a political transition that would preserve Syria's unity and institutions. |
| Now, this may not be exactly the plan that any of us ourselves would have designed. I know that many nations feel that way. But it represents the best effects and efforts of Syria's neighbors to chart a way forward, and it deserves a chance to work. | Now, this may not be exactly the plan that any of us ourselves would have designed. I know that many nations feel that way. But it represents the best effects and efforts of Syria's neighbors to chart a way forward, and it deserves a chance to work. |
| • Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov refused to take Clinton's telephone calls, after staying away from the UN, the specialist UN blog Inner City Press reports. Clinton said nothing should be read into Lavrov not taking her call, blaming the apparent snub on poor communications in Australia where Lavrov is visiting. | • Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov refused to take Clinton's telephone calls, after staying away from the UN, the specialist UN blog Inner City Press reports. Clinton said nothing should be read into Lavrov not taking her call, blaming the apparent snub on poor communications in Australia where Lavrov is visiting. |
| • Syrian ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari, accused the Arab League of violating its principles and siding with pro-Israeli western countries. | • Syrian ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja'afari, accused the Arab League of violating its principles and siding with pro-Israeli western countries. |
| Syria considers the decision made at the Arab League Council's recent meeting a violation of Syria's national sovereignty, a flagrant interference in its internal affairs and a gross transgression of the goals for which the AL was founded ... The wild tendency of some Western countries to interfere in our internal and external affairs by all means is not new or accidental, but it is a systematic and continued approach since Sykes-Picot agreement in 1916 and Balfour Declaration in 1917, and through the unlimited support to Israel in its aggressive polices and its occupation of the Arab territories. | Syria considers the decision made at the Arab League Council's recent meeting a violation of Syria's national sovereignty, a flagrant interference in its internal affairs and a gross transgression of the goals for which the AL was founded ... The wild tendency of some Western countries to interfere in our internal and external affairs by all means is not new or accidental, but it is a systematic and continued approach since Sykes-Picot agreement in 1916 and Balfour Declaration in 1917, and through the unlimited support to Israel in its aggressive polices and its occupation of the Arab territories. |
| • The opposition Free Syrian Army controls large parts of al-Qusayr but its grip on the city is weak, according photojournalist Alessio Romenzi who has spent more than a week in the area. | • The opposition Free Syrian Army controls large parts of al-Qusayr but its grip on the city is weak, according photojournalist Alessio Romenzi who has spent more than a week in the area. |
| The FSA's fighters here are not strong. They know that they cannot really compete with the regular army in numbers or in equipment. Each of them has a Kalashnikov; some have M16s, RPGs and a few mortars. That is nothing – nothing in comparison with the troops who have remained loyal to the regime. Still, though, they say they will fight on, come what may. | The FSA's fighters here are not strong. They know that they cannot really compete with the regular army in numbers or in equipment. Each of them has a Kalashnikov; some have M16s, RPGs and a few mortars. That is nothing – nothing in comparison with the troops who have remained loyal to the regime. Still, though, they say they will fight on, come what may. |
| • Syrian forces were battling groups of defectors in the eastern outskirts of Damascus on Tuesday as a campaign continued to reclaim pockets of the capital briefly seized by opposition groups. The sound of artillery and gunfire could be heard throughout the afternoon as opposition forces fought street battles with loyalists who had retaken contested areas in northern Damascus on Monday. | • Syrian forces were battling groups of defectors in the eastern outskirts of Damascus on Tuesday as a campaign continued to reclaim pockets of the capital briefly seized by opposition groups. The sound of artillery and gunfire could be heard throughout the afternoon as opposition forces fought street battles with loyalists who had retaken contested areas in northern Damascus on Monday. |