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Updated at 4:09 p.m. ET: Amid escalating bloodshed in the Syrian city of Homs, the U.N. Security Council on Saturday failed to pass a resolution calling on the Syrian president to step down.
Russia and China vetoed the resolution endorsing an Arab League call for Bashar Assad to leave power. The other 13 council members, including the U.S., France and Britain, voted in favor of the resolution.
The vote took place as Syrian forces pummeled the city of Homs with mortar and artillery fire that activists say killed more than 200 people in one of the bloodiest episodes of the uprising against Assad's regime. The U.N. says more than 5,400 people have been killed over almost 11 months in a Syrian government crackdown on civilian protests.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
"The United States is disgusted that a couple of members of this Council continue to prevent us from fulfilling our sole purpose here -- addressing an ever-deepening crisis in Syria and a growing threat to regional peace and security," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
"This is a great disappointment to the people of Syria and the Middle East, and to all supporters of democracy and human rights," a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. "It undermines the role of the United Nations and the international community in this period when the Syrian authorities must hear a unified voice calling for an immediate end to its violence against the Syrian people."
NBC's Richard Engel and Ali Arouzi report on the escalating tension between the two nations.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it had not been possible to work constructively with Russia ahead of the vote. "I thought that there might be some ways to bridge, even at this last moment, a few of the concerns that the Russians had. I offered to work in a constructive manner to do so. That has not been possible,'' she told reporters at a security conference in Munich.
Syria has been a key Russian ally since Soviet times and Moscow has opposed any U.N. call that could be interpreted as advocating military intervention or regime change.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters that he was encouraged by statements about "the intention to continue diplomatic efforts" and noted that the Security Council is "not the only diplomatic tool on the planet."
Churkin said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the country's foreign intelligence chief, Mikhail Fradkov, will meet with Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, without providing specifics on the purpose of that trip.
Russia had expressed concerns about the draft text, saying it feared the resolution would lead to the kind of military intervention and regime change seen in Libya after last year's council action intended to protect civilians from attacks by forces loyal to strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
A view of houses that residents said were damaged during a military crackdown on protesters against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Rasten near Homs.
After Saturday's vote, Churkin accused fellow council members of being inflexible.
"We greatly regret this result of our joint work" on the resolution, he said.
Earlier, President Barack Obama issued a statement calling the latest attack on Homs "an unspeakable assault" by Assad's regime.
"Assad must halt his campaign of killing and crimes against his own people now. He must step aside and allow a democratic transition to proceed immediately," Obama said.
"The Syrian regime's policy of maintaining power by terrorizing its people only indicates its inherent weakness and inevitable collapse," Obama said. "Assad has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the internationalcommunity."
The violence in Homs sparked protests in several cities outside Syria.
British police used batons and riot shields to try to hold back protesters trying to storm the Syrian Embassy in London. "We want to close the embassy!" demonstrators shouted.
Police brought in sandbags and riot gear to regain control of the surging crowd, which lobbed objects at the embassy, situated near Buckingham Palace.
Slideshow: Stuggle in Syria
In all, anti-Assad demonstrators stormed at least five embassies in Europe and the Middle East.
The Asociated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.
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Muslim countries seem to do ok fighting and killing among them self's . help a side ? hell no!!! they don't like the west. why should we help ! I'd like too see them all dead !! they do nothing for mankind except preach hatred ! let them stew in there mess !
I for one do not care who runs syria, they all want to kill each other. Just to be on the side lines, if russia were to be attacked as they have in the past by muslim extremist, they just shoot to kill. Remember the massacre in the movie theater a few years ago, they went in blasting anyone who moved.
Ah ...China and Russia ...
Let's send them some more of our jobs and manufacturing for being such great allies of ours.
CEOs who send jobs to China should be imprisoned for treason.
Its well past the time when China and Russia should have been removed from the security council. They do no not believe in the democratic process in their own countries which obviously disqualifies their participation on the security council. Its time for all the members to recognize them for what they are - totalitarian regimes- and remove them from the the Security Council. They have no right to have any say in the decisions concerning the freedom of people. Its time to get civilized at the United- joke as it now is structured - Nations!
So is this the acceptance from the U.N. thanks to Russia and China for Syria to kill its people?
I'll say it again, there are more dead in Mexico and the U.N, does nothing about it but some people on here are just itching for a war and buy into the same humanitarian scam that goes from country to country, God forbid the jews start killing their own people because the U.N. would do nothing, they wouldn't kniow what to do if that wrench got thrown into the works. Initiate the uprisings covertly and scream for humanitarian efforts and finally military action but all of Mexico can die off as long as illegals vote and keep a distraction going and possible reason to put troops on our streets.
I find that Russia and China are more Capitalist and less moral than the U.S. They will sell weapons over dead children.
I bet Newt would free them!! As part of the Teabagger "holey war" we will invade with our christian solders to smite the Muslim infidels!!
And they will come from the north and descend upon Jerusalem.
The ongoing unrest and brutal violence perpetrated by the Assad regime against Syrian civilians is tragic and horrible to watch, yes. but the idea that the United States or this administration should or can do anything on the order of intervention to stop it is absurd and dangerous. America does not need another war in the Middle East. We are still spending $2 billion a week on a failed occupation in Afghanistan. Our country cannot handle any more foreign adventures.
Syria is fighting for their freedoms in the only way that they know with the current conditions in power there.
The people of the United States of America need to start studying history and look at the constitution. Look at how our "leaders" are handling our country. What has happened to the greatest country in the world? We may still be the best, but there is definitely a decline in the morals and health of this great country. We don't even take care of what happens in our own back yards. We take care of distant attackers first. We pay millions and billions of dollars to other countries that amount to bribes that are used against us. "Fast & Furious" is an ideal example that is close to home.
Go to the polls and vote out all of the current administration. Let us take care of our own back yard before others or we will be going down the toilet. Maybe our armed forces could be of assistance in Mexico fighting the cartels. That would be a lot more productive for America as a whole. Let the Muslims be. They have a religion that they must sort out on their own. I have peace loving Muslim friends that want nothing to do with what is happening overseas.
Go to the polls and vote for the people that will make America great again!!!!
UN is meaningless and without respect. It's time for it to dissolve!
I hope the U.S. does not do another Libya/Egypt intervention that uses tax payor money to embolden terrorists. Let Syrians figure out their problems.
Let us stop being the policemen of the world. We are the largest debtor nation in the world and headed straight for bankruptcy. Let us deal with this or we will be dealing with civil unrest and violence here at home. We may need UN intervention when the top 1% take power from us.
The U.S. does not need to get involved in another Muslim war.
Russia and China are scourge of the world. they are dishonest, cheating, lieing people (I use that term loosely) and have now been exposed to the world as such. Putin is in trouble and China believes they are taking over the world. Let me be clear to China - THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
That is the problem: China is taking over the world and the USA is not going anywhere!
Amen Brother!!
Read about China. It will debunk the China fears. You know the top holder of U.S. debt is American citizens right?
China holds approximately 5% of our debt, which is an investment in America.
Why try a resolution when we know Russia and China will veto? Let them to their own. And Ursammajor you are right. Rant all we want and to what avail?
I just hope this isn't a precursor to the "teams" for WWIII.
For all you backers of "Obama is great", the sane world out here fully realizes that he has claimed on several occasions, the latest 2 days ago, that he is the second coming of Christ and has messianic beliefs about himself, so therefore, you backers must be just as deliusional about Obama as the "Second Messiah" as he is. Therefore, for you, he can do no wrong, but everything he does must be prophetic and correct.
You are totally deluded as to Obama's real record. Grow up and think for yourself, not the "messiah's" thinking.
No different than the support Bush got. Radical elements will always defend their leaders.
For those of you awaiting a messiah, good luck on your wait
To me the UN is a farse, no teeth in that dog.
The U.N. probably wouldn't even exist without U.S. funding. I can't find recent info right now, but in 2006 Russia wasn't even a top ten contributor and China only contributed 2%
The U.S. was responsible for 22% of the U.N. funding.
Sanity has prevailed .Syrian Observatory for Human Rights should tone down its blatant,counterproductive propaganda.The world is not impressed.It should stick to the truth to be credible.The world knows Bashar Assad is a dictator and his regime is repressive.But the tall claims of the Observatory are an insult to the intelligence of the world community.
Of course Russia and China vetoed the proposal. They do the same things to their people as Assad is doing in Syria. It's just that they either do it where it can't be seen or they prevent the media from reporting on it. Dictatorships have to support each other's cruel and tyranic actions or they would all crumble.
Paduki.......I agree and let that burn in for a long time. I assume the Russian and Chinese know that whenever some issues of theirs come up for a vote in the UN we will always make sure to vote against them.
An Oracle Concerning Damascus:
"See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.
(Isaiah 17:1-2)
This "veto" by the kings of the east (russia and china) are just fulfilling Biblical Prophecy. See, the above Oracle will take place during the Great Tribulation, IMMEDIATELY following the IMMINENT Rapture of the Remnant of the Bride of Christ, ALL babies, and ALL young children. Then, you will see damascus leveled, as the Oracle above states. The Holy Bible is the ONLY Text to NEVER be proven wrong in the History of the World. Got Jesus?
I couldn't care less what happens to Syria as long as we stay out of it. I'm retired now and changed my voting party from repub to democrat and will vote straight democrat regardless of who is running. I want to see if the democrats will now take care of me to the grave. Between social security, medicare, food stamps, veterans burial benefit, I should be set pretty good. Yep, I'm voting straight party line democrat from now on. All you youngsters - vote democrat and thank you for your support.
Russia and China blocked this because it would be self incrimination if they didn't. (See Chechnya and Tienamen Square)