Islam Times - Russia vetoes UNSC resolution on Syria

Islam Times - Russia, together with China, has vetoed the United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria. It is the third time in nine months that Moscow has used its powers to block a resolution that wants to impose more sanctions on Bashar Assad.

Russia is strongly opposed to any action that could break the international law. It says that Syria's right to protect its state sovereignty should be respected.

Earlier this week, Moscow has proposed that a peace-observing mission in Syria should be extended by further 90 days.

The UN vote comes on the wave of escalation of unrest in Syria. Only on Wednesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the government building in Damascus. Syria's Defence Minister and the head of Syria's military intelligence, who also happened to be Bashar Assad's brother-in-law, along with a top official have died. Two more high-ranking officers were seriously injured and taken to hospital.

This week, Moscow became the epicenter of global diplomacy with the UN special envoy to the Syrian crisis, Kofi Annan, meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister and Vladimir Putin. The President then held talks with the Turkish Prime Minister and on the eve of the UN vote on Syria, President Obama made phone calls to his Russian counterpart. While all sides are interested in ending the unrest that has been tearing Syria apart, Russia is adamant it must be done within the international legal framework.