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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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 2014 and 2015. | |
| The reports said that Syrian air force helicopters dropped chlorine gas on rebel-held areas, twice in March 2015 and once in April 2014. | |
| The use of chlorine as a weapon is prohibited under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. | |
| Syria blamed for chemical weapons attack | |
| Why is Russia engaged in Aleppo? | |
| Syria: The story of the conflict | |
| Islamic State militants had also used sulphur-mustard gas in an attack, the watchdog found. | |
| 'Sad day' | 'Sad day' |
| Tuesday's resolution had been drafted by the US, the UK and France. | |
| It would have banned the sale of helicopters to Syria, and led to sanctions against 11 Syrian commanders or officials, and 10 groups linked to the chemical attacks. | |
| Nine Security Council members supported the resolution, while three - China, Russia and Bolivia - voted against it. | |
| The final three members - Egypt, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia - abstained. | |
| A Security Council resolution needs nine votes in support, and no vetoes from the five permanent members (the US, France, Russia, UK and China) in order to pass. | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin had said sanctions against Syria would be "totally inappropriate", saying "it would only hurt or undermine confidence" in peace talks. | Russian President Vladimir Putin had said sanctions against Syria would be "totally inappropriate", saying "it would only hurt or undermine confidence" in peace talks. |
| China's UN ambassador Liu Jieyi said: "We oppose the use of chemical weapons." However, he said it was too soon to impose sanctions as investigations were still ongoing. | |
| 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. | 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 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." | 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." |