As fighting intensified in Syria, and with international diplomacy at a near standstill, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a 30-day extension to a monitoring mission on Friday so that observers can safely leave the country.The vote allows the 300 unarmed military observers to begin to shut down their mission. They have been deployed under U.N. envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan to end the 16-month conflict, but have been largely ineffective as fighting raged and Mr. Annan's overtures failed to stem the violence.
"The decision we took was to extend the UNSMIS's mission for a final period of 30 days to allow it to withdraw safely and orderly -- in an orderly fashion," U.S. ambassador Susan Rice said. "And we hope very much that the withdrawal will be conducted with the principal priority placed on the security of U.N. personnel."
The council decision comes after Russia and China, on Thursday, vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed consequences on Syria if it failed to halt the violence.
New avenues
After the vote, the U.S. and Britain vowed to address the situation in Syria through other means.
In London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Syrian opposition needs more help.
“We will all be doing more outside the Security Council and intensifying our work to support the Syrian opposition, to give humanitarian aid outside the work of the Security Council,” he told the BBC.
On Friday, Russia rejected Western criticism of its veto.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that some Western countries are trying to lay the blame for the escalating Syrian violence on Russia's refusal to support a resolution threatening sanctions against the authorities," foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
China's state media on Friday defended Beijing's veto.
"Unfortunately, some Western countries hastily pushed for a vote on the immature draft, which, if adopted, will only lead to more violence in Syria," Chinese state media said.
Fighting rages
The U.N. activity comes as more fighting was reported throughout Syria.
Syria Conflict Deaths
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Syria Conflict Deaths
"The decision we took was to extend the UNSMIS's mission for a final period of 30 days to allow it to withdraw safely and orderly -- in an orderly fashion," U.S. ambassador Susan Rice said. "And we hope very much that the withdrawal will be conducted with the principal priority placed on the security of U.N. personnel."
The council decision comes after Russia and China, on Thursday, vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have imposed consequences on Syria if it failed to halt the violence.
New avenues
After the vote, the U.S. and Britain vowed to address the situation in Syria through other means.
In London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Syrian opposition needs more help.
“We will all be doing more outside the Security Council and intensifying our work to support the Syrian opposition, to give humanitarian aid outside the work of the Security Council,” he told the BBC.
On Friday, Russia rejected Western criticism of its veto.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that some Western countries are trying to lay the blame for the escalating Syrian violence on Russia's refusal to support a resolution threatening sanctions against the authorities," foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
China's state media on Friday defended Beijing's veto.
"Unfortunately, some Western countries hastily pushed for a vote on the immature draft, which, if adopted, will only lead to more violence in Syria," Chinese state media said.
Fighting rages
The U.N. activity comes as more fighting was reported throughout Syria.
x
Syria Conflict Deaths