The United States has continued for a second day to criticize the United Nations Security Council for failing to pass a resolution condemning the Syrian regime's deadly crackdown on protesters.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on October 5 said the Security Council had "abrogated its responsibility," and she said Russia and China -- which vetoed the U.S.- and European-backed draft resolution -- will have to provide explanations to the Syrian people.
"We believe that the Security Council abrogated its responsibility yesterday -- the responsibility to protect international peace and the security of civilians," Clinton said on a visit to the Dominican Republic.
"The resolution voted on yesterday represented the bare minimum that the international community should have said in response to the months of violence that the Assad regime has inflicted on the Syrian people. The countries that chose to veto the resolution will have to offer their own explanations to the Syrian people."
Clinton said that "the Syrian people will not forget" the failure of the Security Council to pass the resolution, which would have threatened possible international action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also criticized the Security Council, saying the UN has a "moral obligation" to act to prevent further bloodshed and to help the Syrian people find a way out of what he described as a "dangerous crisis."
Russia and China on October 4 used their veto powers as permanent members of the Security Council to kill the resolution, saying they could not support any suggestion that sanctions could be imposed against the Syrian regime.
Brazil, India, Lebanon, and South Africa abstained in the vote.
According to the UN, more than 2,700 people have been killed in the Syrian regime's crackdown since the protest movement gained momentum in mid-March.
compiled from agency reports
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on October 5 said the Security Council had "abrogated its responsibility," and she said Russia and China -- which vetoed the U.S.- and European-backed draft resolution -- will have to provide explanations to the Syrian people.
"We believe that the Security Council abrogated its responsibility yesterday -- the responsibility to protect international peace and the security of civilians," Clinton said on a visit to the Dominican Republic.
"The resolution voted on yesterday represented the bare minimum that the international community should have said in response to the months of violence that the Assad regime has inflicted on the Syrian people. The countries that chose to veto the resolution will have to offer their own explanations to the Syrian people."
Clinton said that "the Syrian people will not forget" the failure of the Security Council to pass the resolution, which would have threatened possible international action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also criticized the Security Council, saying the UN has a "moral obligation" to act to prevent further bloodshed and to help the Syrian people find a way out of what he described as a "dangerous crisis."
Russia and China on October 4 used their veto powers as permanent members of the Security Council to kill the resolution, saying they could not support any suggestion that sanctions could be imposed against the Syrian regime.
Brazil, India, Lebanon, and South Africa abstained in the vote.
According to the UN, more than 2,700 people have been killed in the Syrian regime's crackdown since the protest movement gained momentum in mid-March.
compiled from agency reports