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Syria crisis: UN assembly approves Arab-backed resolution Syria crisis: UN assembly approves Arab-backed resolution
(40 minutes later)
The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution condemning human rights violations in Syria and calling for an end to the violence. The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of a resolution condemning human rights violations in Syria and calling for an end to the violence.
The Arab-backed initiative is the latest stage in international attempts to mediate an end to the crisis. The Arab-backed initiative, which also calls on President Bashar al-Assad to resign, is the latest of several attempts to bring an end to the crisis.
It also calls for President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power. Syria said the move would only worsen the crisis and encourage "terrorists".
Earlier China, which along with Russia vetoed a previous resolution at the Security Council, said it was sending an envoy to Syria. Earlier China said it was sending a senior envoy to Damascus to negotiate a "peaceful and proper" solution.
Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will go to the capital, Damascus, on Friday, in what Beijing said was an attempt to find a "peaceful and proper" resolution to the conflict. The non-binding resolution before the General Assembly backs an Arab League plan aimed at stopping the killings - it was modelled on an earlier resolution in the Security Council that was vetoed by Russia and China.
Human rights groups say 7,000 civilians have been killed in Syria since the uprising against Mr Assad began last March. Unlike its precursor, the resolution endorsed by the assembly has no legal authority, but the BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN said its backers hope it would increase political pressure on Damascus to end the violence.
At least 40 people were killed on Thursday, activists said. 'Promoting civil war'
There were also reports that prominent pro-democracy blogger Razan Ghazzawi had been arrested, along with Mazen Darwish, head of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom Of Expression, and a dozen other people. Egypt introduced the resolution to the chamber and urged delegates to reach a consensus which would send a strong message to the Syrian authorities.
'Supporting extremists' "We demand that the Syrian government heed the demands of the Arab and Syrian people and staunch the bloodshed," said ambassador Maged Abdelaziz.
The non-binding resolution before the General Assembly backs an Arab League plan aimed at stopping the killings. But Syria's ambassador Bashar Jaafari said a yes vote would only be a message of support to the "extremists and terrorists" Damascus declares it is fighting.
It was approved by 137 votes to 12 against, with 17 abstentions. Vetoes are not allowed in the assembly.
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 is 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.
It also stated that America's aim was to establish a friendly government in Syria - in order to counter the influence of Iran.
Egypt introduced the resolution to the chamber on behalf of the 27 other countries backing it, and urged delegates to reach a consensus which would send a strong message to the Syrian authorities.
But Syria's ambassador Bashar Jaafari said a yes vote would only be a message of support to "all these extremists and terrorists". Damascus has routinely said it is fighting armed terrorists.
Mr Jaafari said the resolution "would only lead to a tightening of the crisis, and more violence in the region as a whole".Mr Jaafari said the resolution "would only lead to a tightening of the crisis, and more violence in the region as a whole".
Ahead of the vote, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had called on Syrian authorities to stop killing civilians, and said crimes against humanity might be taking place in the country. As expected, China and Russia again voted against the measure - both have firmly opposed what they see as forced regime change and have raised concerns about the possibility of military involvement.
"We see neighbourhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused. We see almost certain crimes against humanity," he said. Before the vote, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the resolution was "unbalanced" so Moscow would not back it.
Mr Ban said it was "regrettable" that the previous resolution put before the UN Security Council had been vetoed by China and Russia, but that the lack of agreement "does not give the government licence to continue this assault on its own people".
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says there is no sign so far that Russia will give in to international pressure and join the condemnation of the authorities in Damascus.
Russia has opposed what it sees as forced regime change and has raised concerns about the possibility of military involvement.
Before the vote, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the latest resolution "remains unbalanced" so Moscow would not back it.
"It directs all the demands at the government, and says nothing about the opposition," Russian media quoted him as saying."It directs all the demands at the government, and says nothing about the opposition," Russian media quoted him as saying.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held brief talks with his French counterpart Alain Juppe in Vienna on Thursday, but said the French - who back the resolution - had offered no new proposals Venezuela, which also voted no, said the motion denied Syria its sovereignty and was being used by some parties to "promote a civil war on a large scale".
In China, Mr Zhai condemned violence against civilians and called for the government to respect the people's "legitimate" desire for reform. The resolution was approved by 137 votes to 12 against, with 17 abstentions. Vetoes are not allowed in the assembly. Three countries said technical problems prevented them from voting.
Massacre fears
Earlier in the day, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had called on Syrian authorities to stop killing civilians, and said crimes against humanity might be taking place in the country.
"We see neighbourhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused. We see almost certain crimes against humanity," he said.
Mr Ban said the previous vetoes were "regrettable", but that the lack of agreement "does not give the government licence to continue this assault on its own people".
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun, who will go to Damascus on Friday, condemned violence against civilians and called for the government to respect the people's "legitimate" desire for reform.
But in the interview, posted on the Chinese foreign ministry website, he also said sanctions or the threat of sanctions were "not conducive to the appropriate resolution of this issue".But in the interview, posted on the Chinese foreign ministry website, he also said sanctions or the threat of sanctions were "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.
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 began. In Syria itself, at least 40 people were killed on Thursday, activists said.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were fears of a massacre in the Deraa province village of Sahm al-Julan, where dozens of civilians have disappeared. 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 began.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were fears of a massacre in the Deraa province village of Sahm al-Julan, where dozens of civilians had disappeared.
"Witnesses said security forces shot at the civilians and then piled them onto pick-up trucks. Their fate is unknown," the group said in a statement."Witnesses said security forces shot at the civilians and then piled them onto pick-up trucks. Their fate is unknown," the group said in a statement.
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.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.
Shelling by government forces was reported in Homs, which has along with Hama been hit by major government offensives.Shelling by government forces was reported in Homs, which has along with Hama been hit by major government offensives.
There were also reports that prominent pro-democracy blogger Razan Ghazzawi had been arrested, along with Mazen Darwish, head of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom Of Expression, and a dozen other people.
Reporting restrictions mean such reports are difficult to verify.Reporting restrictions mean such reports are difficult to verify.
Syria is due to hold a referendum on 26 February on a new draft constitution, which would formally end the Baath Party's monopoly on power, and place a two-term limit on the presidency. Human rights groups say 7,000 civilians have been killed in Syria since the uprising against Mr Assad began last March.
But our correspondent says it is hard to see how it could be conducted credibly when in many areas the authorities are having to use military force to retain control.