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UNSC vote on Syria draft text likely on Monday

UNITED NATIONS -- In a related matter, Philippe Bolopion, UN director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that after ten months of passivity, during which more than 5,400 people have been killed, the Council members "should have run out of excuses for inaction." "Any country should be wary of supporting the position of Russia, which is signing lucrative arms deals with the Syrian government, while providing it with diplomatic cover," he added.
The Council members reluctant to sign on to the draft text are Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Back in October, Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution that would have condemned the Assad regime for the bloody crackdown. South Africa and India abstained. Pakistan joined the Council only last month. Their message is that the Council should not meddle in Syria's internal affairs.
Even though the draft text is void of any sanctions or threat of military actions, these members still fear the wording could be used to justify a Libya-type intervention.
These countries are "playing politics with the lives of ordinary Syrians, Bolopion added. (end) sj.gb KUNA 022251 Feb 12NNNN