UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - European nations moved Wednesday to have the Security Council of the United Nations to adopt a resolution condemning the Syria for its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, said diplomats.
Britain, France, Germany and the Portugal distributed a draft resolution to the Council of the nation 15 despite the risk of a right of veto by the Russia.
The draft, obtained by Reuters, "condemned the systematic human rights violations, including killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances and the torture of peaceful protesters, human rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities."
The text, which explains the Syrian actions may amount to crimes against humanity, also requires that Damascus to comply with an investigation of the United Nations Human Rights Council and launch its own "credible and impartial investigation" on violence against the demonstrators.
Contrary to the resolutions adopted this year on the Libya, the project does not sanctions United Nations, or of military intervention against the Syria. But it urged States not step to provide weapons to Damascus.
The text reached the members of the Council a day after security forces said Syrian human rights group killed at least 1,100 civilians in their two month campaign to crush anti-Government protests.
"The situation warrants action by the Security Council", said U.N. Ambassador Jose Filipe Moraes Cabral of the Portugal.
But he warned that it is not easy to get a resolution on the Syria through the Council of a possible Russian veto. "I do not underestimate the complex issues in approving this resolution," he told journalists.
UN diplomats said that a vote on the resolution was not likely before next week.
PREVENT A RIGHT OF VETO
If the Security Council remains silent it "would only embolden the Syrian leaders in the war that they lead to their own people," said Philippe Bolopion of Human Rights Watch. "A strong message of the Council is since a long time, and countries would oppose have much explaining to do."
A previous attempt to push the Council condemning the actions of the forces of security Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has failed after the Russia, the India and China are clearly indicated that they would oppose it.
The Europeans pushed for a declaration, but sent first said that a resolution would be easier to pass through a divided Council.
Statements require unanimous approval, while the resolutions need only nine votes Yes and no vetoes of five permanent members - the United States, Great Britain, the France, the Russia and China. Resolutions, contrary to the statements, are legally binding.
Cabral said he was confident of nine votes for the resolution, but avoiding a right of veto could be more difficult.
The American delegation was less enthusiastic about the European push for a resolution to condemn the Syria concerns, he may be blocked by the Russia, diplomats of the Nations United said.
American authorities clearly that would rather have no action of the Council a veto of the resolution, said sent. Washington fears such an outcome would send a signal to Assad that the international community is divided on the issue, that he could interpret as a green light to go up his repression.
Last week, President Dmitri Medvedev said that Russia would not support a resolution of the Council on the Syria - a long-time Moscow ally - if it was similar to a resolution of 17 March authorizing the military intervention in Libya.
(Edited by Christopher Wilson)
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