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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria crisis: China sends senior envoy | Syria crisis: China sends senior envoy |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| China says it is sending a senior envoy to Syria in a bid to find a peaceful resolution to the country's crisis. | China says it is sending a senior envoy to Syria in a bid to find a peaceful resolution to the country's crisis. |
| Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will go to the capital, Damascus, on Friday. | Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will go to the capital, Damascus, on Friday. |
| China was widely criticised for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution urging Syria's leader to step down. | China was widely criticised for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution urging Syria's leader to step down. |
| The UN General Assembly will vote later on an Arab-sponsored resolution condemning the Syrian government. Rights groups say some 7,000 civilians have been killed there since March. | The UN General Assembly will vote later on an Arab-sponsored resolution condemning the Syrian government. Rights groups say some 7,000 civilians have been killed there since March. |
| The resolution also backs an Arab League plan calling for President Bashar al-Assad to hand power to his vice-president. | The resolution also backs an Arab League plan calling for President Bashar al-Assad to hand power to his vice-president. |
| The measure cannot be vetoed in the assembly, but the resolution would be non-binding. | |
| Ahead of the vote, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Syrian authorities to stop killing civilians, and said crimes against humanity might be taking place in the country. | |
| Officially, Beijing has a policy of non-interference in other countries' affairs. | Officially, Beijing has a policy of non-interference in other countries' affairs. |
| But as China's become more influential, it's a policy that it's finding harder to maintain. In the case of Syria, Beijing remains wary about Western intentions. | But as China's become more influential, it's a policy that it's finding harder to maintain. In the case of Syria, Beijing remains wary about Western intentions. |
| An editorial in the People's Daily newspaper - the mouthpiece of the Communist Party - warned that the violence in Syria could worsen if foreign powers intervened. | An editorial in the People's Daily newspaper - the mouthpiece of the Communist Party - warned that the violence in Syria could worsen if foreign powers intervened. |
| It also stated that America's aim was to establish a friendly government in Syria - in order to counter the influence of Iran. | It also stated that America's aim was to establish a friendly government in Syria - in order to counter the influence of Iran. |
| "We see neighbourhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused. We see almost a certain crimes against humanity," he told reporters during a visit to Austria. | "We see neighbourhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused. We see almost a certain crimes against humanity," he told reporters during a visit to Austria. |
| Violence condemned | Violence condemned |
| In Beijing, Mr Zhai said that China does not approve of armed intervention or forcing so-called "regime change" in Syria. | In Beijing, Mr Zhai said that China does not approve of armed intervention or forcing so-called "regime change" in Syria. |
| In an interview posted on the Chinese foreign ministry website, he condemned violence against civilians and called for the government to respect the people's "legitimate" desire for reform. | In an interview posted on the Chinese foreign ministry website, he condemned violence against civilians and called for the government to respect the people's "legitimate" desire for reform. |
| He also said sanctions or the threat of sanctions "are not conducive to the appropriate resolution of this issue". | He also said sanctions or the threat of sanctions "are not conducive to the appropriate resolution of this issue". |
| A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman would not say if Mr Zhai would also meet Syrian opposition representatives during the two-day visit. | A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman would not say if Mr Zhai would also meet Syrian opposition representatives during the two-day visit. |
| "I believe the message of this visit is that China hopes for a peaceful and proper resolution of the Syrian situation, and that the Chinese side will play a constructive role in the mediation," spokesman Liu Weimin said. | "I believe the message of this visit is that China hopes for a peaceful and proper resolution of the Syrian situation, and that the Chinese side will play a constructive role in the mediation," spokesman Liu Weimin said. |
| Last week, Mr Zhai met a Syrian opposition delegation in Beijing. | Last week, Mr Zhai met a Syrian opposition delegation in Beijing. |
| In Syria itself, government forces are reported to have launched a new attack on the town of Deraa in the south of the country, where the rebellion first started in March last year. | In Syria itself, government forces are reported to have launched a new attack on the town of Deraa in the south of the country, where the rebellion first started in March last year. |
| There are also reports of violence on the eastern border with Iraq, and in Kfar Nabuda in the central Hama province, where a number of rebel soldiers are reported to have been killed, along with several civilians. | |
| Activists say at least 20 people were killed across the country on Thursday. | |
| There are also reports of more shelling by government forces in Homs, which has along with Hama been hit by major government offensives. |