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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria war: Russia and China veto sanctions | Syria war: Russia and China veto sanctions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia and China have vetoed a UN resolution to impose sanctions on Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons. | Russia and China have vetoed a UN resolution to impose sanctions on Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons. |
| It is the seventh time Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to protect the Syrian government. | It is the seventh time Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to protect the Syrian government. |
| China has also vetoed six security council resolutions on Syria since the civil war began in 2011. | China has also vetoed six security council resolutions on Syria since the civil war began in 2011. |
| Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under an agreement negotiated between Russia and the US. | Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under an agreement negotiated between Russia and the US. |
| The Syrian government has previously denied carrying out chemical attacks. | The Syrian government has previously denied carrying out chemical attacks. |
| However, investigations by the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog have found that Syrian government forces carried out three chemical weapons attacks in 2015. | However, investigations by the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog have found that Syrian government forces carried out three chemical weapons attacks in 2015. |
| 'Sad day' | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin had said sanctions against Syria would be "totally inappropriate", saying "it would only hurt or undermine confidence" in peace talks. | |
| However, the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said: "It is a sad day on the Security Council when members start making excuses for other member states killing their own people. | |
| "The world is definitely a more dangerous place." | |
| The UK ambassador Matthew Rycroft said: "Not taking action against chemical weapons' use undermines confidence in the international community's ability to tackle flagrant violations of international law - and undermines the trust of Syrians affected by these horrific attacks." |