Russia and China Veto Causes International Outrage

Russia and China vetoed the United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned the ongoing violence in Syria and supported the Arab League’s plan to end the crackdown. The vote, which shortly followed the massacre in Homs that killed over 330 people, has drawn outrage from many international officials and citizens. “It is difficult to imagine that after the bloodiest day yet in Syria, there are those who would prevent the world community from condemning this violence,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ambassador Susan Rice said she was “outraged” by Russia and China’s actions, calling the veto a “cheap ruse by those who would rather sell arms to the Syrian regime than stand with the Syrian people.” Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalid Al Attiyah expressed his concern for the future of Syria, showed disappointment in the veto, describing it as a “license to kill” for President Bashar Al Assad. Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali stated that Russia and China had “misused” their veto privileges, and said “undoubtedly the international community has to reconsider this mechanism of decision taking.” Jabali encouraged countries to act independently of the U.N. and cut all diplomatic ties with Damascus. ”The Syrian people do not expect from us today long statements … they are expecting deeds, they are expecting concrete measures … the very least we can do is to cut all relations to the Syria regime,” he said. Frustrated by the veto and fearing the breakout of a civil war, Clinton has vowed to “block funding and arms shipments to the Syrian regime through bolstering existing sanctions against imposing further ones.”

Meanwhile, in Syria, a “state-run-newspaper vowed Sunday that Damascus will press its crackdown on the uprising until stability is restored.” The regime has continued to deny that any bombardment happened in Homs, and there has been no independent third party that has been able to confirm the death toll numbers that opposition groups have stated.